Crowley to expand Isla Grande Terminal in San Juan, Puerto Rico

The construction contract was awarded to LPC&D Inc., of Las Piedras, Puerto Rico, and includes the development of a new 900 m-long by 38 m-wide concrete pier and all associated dredging needed to accommodate Crowley’s two new liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered, Commitment Class ships.Crowley’s terminal expansion plans also include the installation of three new ship-to-shore container gantry cranes, which will be supplied under a separate contract.

“This is a great day for Crowley and the people of Puerto Rico, and a critical next step in our nearly $500m re-investment in the Puerto Rico trade lane,” said Jose Ayala, Crowley vice president, Puerto Rico. “This important project represents close collaboration between private business and Porto Rico Port Authority (PRPA) to make a major investment in the infrastructure of Puerto Rico,” said Ayala in a company statement.

The pier design, using the latest displacement-based performance criteria, has been carefully developed over the past year with the PRPA and Harbor Consulting Engineers, Inc., of Seattle. As the lead design firm for the project, Harbor is the engineer of record for the project and the duration of the construction. Crowley and Harbor have worked together on infrastructure projects for nearly 40 years.

Construction is expected to be completed in April 2017, in advance of the inaugural call of the first new Commitment Class ship.

“This level of investment in the Puerto Rico trade is unprecedented,” said John Hourihan, Crowley senior vice president and general manager, Puerto Rico. “We are excited about the cooperation and support we have received for this project from the PRPA.”Since last mid-December, Crowley has, through a number of service enhancements, created additional weekly cargo carrying capacity between Jacksonville, Florida.

Crowley has served the Puerto Rico market since 1954, longer than any other carrier in the trade, and occupied the now 75-acre Isla Grande Terminal the entire time, making it the longest continual occupant of any Jones Act carrier in the trade.