Posted on November 19, 2015
Crowley Puerto Rico Services has broken ground on a US$48.5 million construction project for a new pier at its Isla Grande Terminal in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The project includes the development of a new 900ft long, 114ft wide concrete pier and all associated dredging needed to accommodate Crowley’s two new liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered, Commitment-class ships, which are scheduled for delivery in 2017.
Crowley’s terminal expansion also includes the installation of three new ship-to-shore container gantry cranes, which will be supplied under a separate contract.
“This important project represents close collaboration between private business and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority (PRPA) to make a major investment in the infrastructure of Puerto Rico,” explained Jose “Pache” Ayala, Crowley vice president, Puerto Rico. “We are very pleased to be working with a Puerto Rico-based construction company that is utilizing workers on the island and keeping the money in the local economy.”
The construction contract is being executed by LPC & D Inc of Las Piedras, Puerto Rico, which began driving the first piles for the pier last week. About 75 jobs have been created during the construction phase and about 100 new jobs will be created when the construction is completed in mid-2017 and Crowley begins service with its new ships.
“With the first pile driven, we look forward to watching the coming transformation of our terminal into the most modern and efficient port facility on the island,” said Tom Crowley, company chairman and CEO. “Our new terminal infrastructure will help us reposition Puerto Rico as a shipping and logistics hub for the Caribbean Basin and beyond, and open up many new opportunities for our customers.”
In all, Crowley is investing about US$500 million in its Puerto Rico service with the construction of two new state-of-the-art ships, the new pier, three new container cranes, new truck access gates, reefer plugs, new containers and container handling equipment, and more.
