Seismic and Tsunami Design Considerations for Essential Port Facilities - Case Studies

Recent large earthquakes and devastating tsunamis around the Pacific Rim have underscored the need for the disaster resilience of essential port structures such as piers, wharves, seawalls, and operations and security facilities. These port facilities and structures are part of an interdependent transportation network providing critical functions in seaport commerce, maritime security, and marine transportation in coastal regions. The mountain- and water-based geography of many coastal regions limits land-based transportation route redundancy and places greater importance on marine transportation routes and infrastructure. Maritime-based communities -such as the Puget Sound Region, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Hawaiian Islands - rely on marine transportation networks and infrastructure for commerce, transportation, and economic vitality. These are lifeline systems. In the aftermath of an earthquake or tsunami, the continued function of these essential facilities is critical to the response and recovery of the affected region and, in some cases, other parts of the United States as well. Despite a relatively compressed time schedule, Berth IV was completed on time in January 2012 within its $55 million budget. A picture of the completed Berth is shown in Figure 8.