Chilean Port Developments: Overview of the Developments in the Chilean ort Sector and the Cases of Mejillones and Bio Bio

The port of Mejillones, near Antofagasta in the northern part of Chile, is being developed by Complejo Portuario Mejillones [CPM]. The initial throughput of the new port will consist of copper, containers and general cargo. Future expansions and the provision for other commodities are foreseen in the following phases of the port master plan. An alternative design was developed for the Chilean port operator SAAM (a subsidiary of CSAV). The future port location in the Bay of Mejillones is sheltered to the south-west but open to the Pacific Ocean in north-east direction. As quite some uncertainty existed in the design wave height, a port layout was designed which would not be vulnerable to this uncertainty. After analysis of the future cargo flows it was decided to make a layout with a phased approach. Initially two berths would be constructed and at a later phase additional berths could be constructed. The tender was submitted by SAAM in July 1999.