Veracruz, Mexico

Puertos Logísticos de México Multipurpose Wharf

Scope/Solutions

In early 2023, Puertos Logísticos de México (PLM) was awarded the concession of a multipurpose marine terminal at the new Port of Veracruz in Mexico. Located between an existing container terminal and a liquid bulk handling facility, the terminal development includes construction of a 550 m long marginal wharf. Working for Cimentaciones Mexicanas (CIMESA) as part of the design-build team, SGH designed the structure for the wharf and provided engineering support during construction.

SGH designed the structure for the 550 m long and 38 m wide marginal wharf under an engineering, procurement, and construction contract following early contractor involvement delivery protocols. The wharf’s deck structure comprises a system of precast concrete plugs, subcaps, crane beams, transverse beams, and pretensioned deck panels supported on piles. Key considerations include:

  • Selecting a structural system conducive to top-down construction, which allowed for an accelerated construction schedule
  • Designing for seismic loads using nonlinear pushover analysis techniques
  • Detailing of pile-beam joints using deck capacity protection principles per ASCE 61 and AASHTO
  • Supporting heavy cranes: 300 m will be used jointly by ship-to-shore cranes and mobile harbor cranes (MHCs) and the remaining 250 meters by MHCs
  • Driving open-ended 0.9 and 1 m dia. steel pipe piles up to 45 m into silty sands

Project Summary

Icon: completion-date

2025

Completion Date
Solutions
New Construction
Services
Structures
Markets
Infrastructure & Transportation
Client(s)
Cimentaciones Mexicanas (a subsidiary of Soletanche Bachy International)
Specialized Capabilities
Marine & Civil Works

Key team members

Carlos E. Ospina
Senior Principal

Additional Projects

Northeast

First Street Bridge

The First Street Bridge is a bascule drawbridge carrying traffic westbound over Broad Canal. The bridge suffered from several forms of deterioration including damage to the concrete counterweight. SGH prepared remedial designs and developed construction documents for rehabilitation of the bridge.
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West

Seismic Retrofit of Marine Terminal

SGH was the engineer of record for the seismic retrofit design of two 450 ft long wharf structures that required strengthening to comply with the MOTEMS seismic performance standards for marine oil terminals in the state.
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