Engineering innovation to improve site field is applied for the first time in the country. Photos: Claudia Rodriguez Herrera
Well sheltered by mountains, geographically located in the center of the Cuban suroriente, and on the horizon of major international trade routes that cross the Caribbean Sea, particularly the hundreds of boats that come and Panama Canal and who knows if the of Nicaragua in the future, the bay of Santiago de Cuba is undoubtedly privileged.
However, setting the letters this enclave as a port center of interest beyond the sea, are not yet in tune with the universal demands: the insufficient depth of the water and overexploited and archaic infrastructure limit the optimal use of this port, despite the impairments is distinguished by its labor collective, with a deep sense of belonging and often beat productive brands.
This project responds to the improvement of port operations and integrated development plan of the city, says the engineer Juan Guerra Macía.
"In the port Guillermón Moncada bagging process is done away from the warehouse, we do not have cranes on earth, so we rely on those with boats. Here we were a little behind, and an investment not undertaken since the eighties. Ships have grown, but the pier is 197 meters and the depth of eight, hence no assimilates deep draft vessels, "explains the engineer Juan Guerra Macía, director of the Investor Basic Unit (UBI) Yarayó, entity designated by the Cuban party to address the modernization of the property.
Indeed, given the current state of the anchorage has ranked as the second largest in the country and backed by a Chinese financing is intended to improve its infrastructure emerges and, moreover, raise their performance with a view to the future .
Since colonial times a first plan to raise funds for the refurbishment of the bay was presented by the local Chamber of Commerce, but the idea did not find listening ears. A quarter century later, when the Panamanian Interoceanic locks seduced to traffic, another series of successive failed attempts began by making Santiago a safe and attractive scale for that trade flows.
Thus, upon completion of the ambitious renovation and expansion work today is carried out, the eastern capital materialize a dream of generations after that the winds of prosperity reach the city through its dock. The country will have two modern ports and deep water-and works of Mariel that will be better able to expand business networks and assert its strategic natural key condition of the seas in the region.
The terminal end
Macía profile war has been linked to more than 20 years. "Before I was an engineer in the company of marine works. I was among those who built docks; then spent the Cuban vessel registration as inspector of hydraulic facilities, and port'm since 2007, "he says. But today most likely have at hand the task of his life.
This, he says, is a development project of the port area with a view to increasing its operations, also linked to the comprehensive development plan of the city. Therefore it includes the transfer of the facility to a new area of 10 hectares, located in the western portion of the bay.
"In the multipurpose terminal is built we will have the three types of common operations in a port: bagging, bulk and containers, for which they have three gantry cranes (one of 50 tons and two 30)" illustrates . Also noteworthy, within more than 20 items of work that includes a path, a spring largest reinforced concrete, with 231.15 meters; a platform for open pit and two covered storage containers of 10 tons each.
From the economic standpoint, he adds, this is a considerable advance for the province and the country, meanwhile, with 565,000 tons of goods that are thought manipulate annually through the multifunction terminal, should double in quantity and dynamic current benefits .
A Santiago de Cuba arriving ships of 30,000 tons. The new terminal will support ships of 40 thousand tons, or what is the same, far deeper. For it has been dredged channel of the bay to dock. "We bring depth to 13.60 meters; that is, vessels may be loaded to its maximum capacity and navigate straight to our port without any hindrance. "
These maneuvers, he emphasizes, are not viable at present. So some boats, fundamentally those of large size, are forced to previous stops in Havana or Cienfuegos in order to relieve the load on board, and then to enter the Santiago dock with capacity allowing them to depths of these waters. That transfer, logically, generated additional costs to the economy.
"What we carry three ships at present time we can get one. If today we delay a week to load or unload a ship, with technology that is expected to mount must take 48 or 72 hours; which means reducing costs and expenses, "he says.
Of course, the upcoming terminal will remain the heart of supplies to the remaining eastern provinces, to Camagüey. To meet this distribution scheme the investor a shuttle program by a fleet of trucks and rail. This was going engaged a set of specialized media art, capable of guaranteeing the various procedures for loading, unloading, loading and transhipment.
"We chutes, hoists, conveyors for bagging and shooting of goods to the warehouse; two teams of 40 and 60 tons to operate empty and full, plus internal roads and a railway line containers with access to stores and the pier. This means that the ship can be downloaded directly from the truck or train to box, and then leave for the same territories, "says the specialist.
A sophisticated operations base will enable to implement a system of monitoring and control of movements within the perimeter. "The process is activated from the truck entering the port. The operator is the driver indicating the steps to park, or if you should go immediately to the boat, to the store, to the weight. To exit you are going to follow up. Chinese technology is very modern and similar to that used in Mariel ".
Credit come to fruition
Like the technical devices, funding and advice from China. This is a result of foreign investment policy encouraged on the island by updating the Cuban economic model. Thus, the responsibility for the design, procurement of equipment and execution was left to lachina Communications Construction Company Ltd. (CCCC), human resources company that owns vast experience and ranks as the fourth most prestigious in this area, globally.
"For this government has a credit of 120 million dollars, aimed at resolving the rehabilitation of the port of Santiago into the future," says the director of the UBI Yarayó, belonging to the Business Group Sealift Port.
According to the schedule, set in 12 stages, the completion of work for 2018 is estimated, after the official start just over a year, with soil studies.
"We geological research, which is the first phase was completed. With the characterization of the land it was then mounted the design of the terminal, which worked jointly by a Chinese company and designer Company Works Projects Transport Ministry of Construction. Leading experts are Chinese, but most of the working masses is ours. "
At the time of the team's presence deBOHEMIAen the place, and complex earthworks they were made. Although the area looks firm, actually the foundation is bad, because it is ground gained the sea after pouring there sediments extracted during dredging done decades ago in the bay. Therefore it is necessary to remove it.
To that end a new system of soil improvement is implemented for the first time in the country, by the method of preloading. "In Cuba we are used to roller compaction, but the technique provided by the Chinese is to bury plastic tubes that are gravity draining the water lying at the bottom, the effect of weight. Then he will fill with layers of soil until the required strength.
"This phase, of course, is one of the slowest and thorough, so you can not rush. At the same time demand a significant amount of materials: we are talking about 170 thousand cubic meters of sand and soil with specific characteristics, "says the engineer.
At the time of writing these lines it was already underway stage of construction and assembly, to start kneeling on the seabed piles that will support the new dock.
While constructive tasks pass is designed training all personnel who will operate the future terminal. In this sense, War Macía specifies that 285 workers and a dozen officers, approximately responsible for ensuring the operation of the facility 24 hours should be used.
Project Impact
Beyond the economic benefits arising from the redevelopment of the port for the country, largely it responds to an inclusive plan that pays tax to local progress. Recent changes in the lower area of the city, including the revival of the call Alameda Michaelsen, the new seawall and the opening of several service units, are evidence of this development strategy.
With the displacement of the port area across the bay will be a free area that can bring with it a social impact. "Another reason to push the new terminal is the increase of the cruise and yachting in Santiago de Cuba. At present two cruise ships arrive every week, but the difficulty is that the length of the boat is higher than the seawall. To move the space let can be exploited to enhance the tourism and public recreation, "thinks the engineer.
Juan Guerra Macía raises conducting other investigations, in a second stage, in order to verify whether the dredging can reach up to 14 meters deep. "Currently the entrance of the bay is 10.97 meters, almost 11, but pursue three, because they are necessary to achieve the increase in cruise operations and merchant ships we want. Here boats must enter 186 and 200 meters.
"In the end, we have a fairly modern port, in line with international requirements. The idea is that the ship arrives with all their merchandise and can download it without problem. Here import, export and cabotage is made; that is, we live large vessels to smaller and handed to Manzanillo, Baracoa, and Guantanamo. We are the center of the reception and distribution of goods in the eastern region. Also we aim to exploit all the potential to bring us into the world market. "