Yabucoa Entrance Channel Dredging

 The Entrance Channel into Yabucoa Harbor had silted in over the years from an adjacent river as well as due to the wave action from storms. As a result of the decreased depth caused by the silting in of the channel, the draft and size of the ships that delivered petroleum products to the terminal were adversely affected. Cashman aided Buckeye in identifying means and methods for dredging, offloading, and upland disposal. 

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS 

• Due to budget constraints and disposal capacity, it was determined that a maximum of 120,000 yd³ could be dredged, giving Buckeye a new controlling depth of 40.5’. This allowed Buckeye to bring in ships that were drafting five feet more than previously, which is a significate increase in cargo capacity on large oil tankers. Cashman designed a temporary unloading dock that consisted of a 300’ x 100’ deck barge with a 100’ transfer bridge to access land and allow trucks to drive on and be loaded by long reach excavators. 
• The MARMAC 300 was chartered from McDonough Marine in Louisiana and towed to Fort Pierce, FL. In Fort Pierce, it was loaded out with the components of the transfer bridge, Sterling’s Sennebogen 880 and 870, as well as spill plates and other assorted equipment. It was then towed to Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. 
• Upon arrival, the MARMAC 300 was moored on two dolphins, and the transfer bridge was assembled and installed on the bow end of the barge and the land with the aid of the Dale Pyatt’s crane. 
• Bellagio Corp built the dikes for the spoil containment on the terminal property and provided all the trucking of the spoils from the MARMAC 300 to the disposal site.