Free Port Bahamas

Container and freight port Bahamas

In 2005 the Government of the Bahamas prepared a Master Plan to revitalize downtown Nassau. A critical element in the revitalization strategy is the relocation of the container port from the downtown where it is seen to be disrupting traffic, inhibiting redevelopment, discouraging tourism and in general preventing the best use of waterfront. The location chosen was an inland one in the southwest of the island adjacent to the Bahamas Electricity Corporation Power Plant and the Commonwealth Brewery. This location was selected as part of a sister study which reviewed seven possible locations. The main rationale for the selection of the location was environmental. It was determined that an inland port at this location would have the least marine environmental impact.

The study will include a phased approach for Port layout, including multi-year considerations and alternatives as to the scale of port facilities required to meet current as well as projected carrier requirements at New Providence. This analysis should determine the required port infrastructure e.g., channel access, berthing facilities, container yard requirements, container handling equipment needs, access gate, terminal support facilities such as fencing, lighting, utilities, drainage, reefer plugs, security systems, environmental consequences and mitigation, permitting, and marine activity support requirements such as pilot boat and tug mooring facilities, and customs and inspection facilities in support of the new port. It should also determine the need for and costs of supporting infrastructure. The planning and analysis for the port should be conducted to a level of detail sufficient to provide a conceptual layout plan, order of magnitude of the capital cost of the terminal, and a terminal development implementation schedule. This project is executed together with Ecorys.

Activities:

• port masterplanning
• port operational analysis
• conceptual design
• cost estimation