TECHNICAL-ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY AND PROJECT OF THE ACCESS CHANNELS TO THE PORTS OF BAHÍA BLANCA.

Deepening Dredging Project of the Main Access Channel to the Ports of Bahía Blanca for navigation of large vessels destined for international trade.

The Access Channel to the Ports of Bahía Blanca, which is more than 100 km long, is located near the Atlantic Ocean. The project was developed to define the alignment and characteristics of a navigable channel for PANAMAX-type vessels with a 45-foot draft. Due to the complex geomorphological and oceanographic conditions of the environment, the study and project required large-scale engineering and field work.

The multidisciplinary study included:

• Field surveys (bathymetry and geophysics over 1,000 linear km, 20 drilling and 70 investigations with vibrocoring, sediment sampling and hydrometric measurements)
• Direction and Supervision of Access Channel Pilot Dredging Work. Installation of an Oceanographic Tower with transfer and driving from a floating crane.
• Studies of Maritime Hydraulics.
• Sedimentation studies.
• Dredging engineering.
• Design of the navigation channel.

Transportation and Economic Studies (Supply and demand of transportation, transportation costs and benefits. Economic evaluation of the project, rates and financial analysis).