Maritime Engineering Services

Port Master Planning and Engineering

This begins with a clear identification of the objectives of the port owner, be it public or private. Objectives such as maximum employment generation, privatization, profit maximization, minimal handling cost or reduction of environmental impacts all require a different approach. The strategy development usually begins with a sound analysis of the current port performance and port competitiveness. And will be compared to the objectives set by the owners. Based on this comparison the task at hand is identified and plans/strategies can be developed to reach the objectives.

For the analysis the following tools can be applied:

• Benchmark with major competitors and international world class ports
• Market perspective and customer identification
• Port demand and capacity analysis
• Development of performance indicators
• Economic cost/benefit analysis

         Maritime Industry

The maritime industry plays a crucial role, especially in the energy and trade sectors. Optimized designs of ports, terminals, jetties, shipyards and other marine structures significantly improve performance and reduces investment costs of projects. Considering time and cost constraints, rough and challenging hydraulic conditions and environmental impacts associated with these complex projects, expert knowledge and innovative solutions are required to enable optimum design.

       Ports and Waterway Design

Port entrances often demand breakwaters for ensuring a calm wave climate in the port and reducing siltation of the port basin and its access channel. The layout scheme of a port breakwater and access channel is an important balance between dredging costs, breakwater construction costs, nautical aspects and wave disturbance inside the port. For new port development, the location selection is also important as this depends on natural sheltering, vicinity to both current infrastructure and required hinterland.

       Breakwater Design

In general, breakwater structures bear high investment costs in port development projects and significantly influence the correct functioning of the port. The breakwater design, layout and cross-sectional design are therefore critical in maritime projects. This requires a broad experience and expertise in port and breakwater design, as well as wave disturbance, nautical aspects and environmental impacts. CDR Infrastructure offers this expertise and required knowledge by our experienced in-house staff and highly specialized partners.

       Financial and PPP-Structuring

CDR Infrastructure uses business case steering as a central tool for all its projects.

      Business Case Steering

Central in the approach of CDR Infrastructure is business case steering. Cost and revenue of investments and alternatives will be evaluated with the help of a financial model allowing to always provide sound motivation and optimized choice and at the same time safeguarding the financing of the project and choosing the most suitable public – private investment structure.

The built up of project/investment interaction between the various disciplines is the key to success. In order to manage and safeguard this interaction PCR uses the Design Cycle with at its heart the Business Case. For instances; changes in market demand should be translated into changes in design or phasing of investments in order to safeguard the financial feasibility. Changes in demand have an effect on income of a project and changes or phasing of design have an effect on Capex and Opex of a project. Combined these changes impact on the feasibility and return of a project/investment.

      From feasibility study to bankable report to implementation

A feasible project is a nice start but the main challenge for any project or investment is to realize and implement the project meeting the return on investment anticipated in the feasibility study. For the four main work streams contracts have to be closed, risks have to be mitigated and opportunities have to be benefited from. In order to deal with the market risk often an operator has to be found. In order to handle the construction risk a construction company has to be found. In order to be allowed to build the project environmental permits have to be in place. In order to start construction finance has to be arranged.

Based on a project’s key technical and risk parameters, objectives and constraints the possible PPP options to deliver the project can be defined (BOT, BOOT, DBFM(O), Lease, Divest, Management Contract, Concession). Port Consultants Rotterdam has in depth experience with this process ultimately leading to a clear financial structure of the project, sound PPP partners and a bankable project/investment.

      Planning Approach

A Port Master Plan integrates the planning and organization of the physical infrastructure, operations, management and services of a port. CDR Infrastructure has a focus on the physical aspects of a port, as these aspects are the least flexible to adjust and adapt once they have been implemented.

The spatial configuration of the port elements is key in that regard. A suitable development of the port through stages is considered for possible future demands in accordance with local and global economic scenarios.

The layout scheme of a port breakwater and access channel is an important balance between dredging costs, breakwater construction costs, nautical aspects and wave disturbance inside the port.
All relevant spatial elements of a port plan are being incorporated into one spatial database (GIS-based). This database contains all descriptive, prescriptive and quantitative information of the port elements (if required on different scale levels) and this database enables quick re-iterations of the design. 

     Services

CDR Infrastructure can provide the following services in the field of  maritime engineering:

• Port strategy
• Port masterplanning
• Maritime economics
• Financial and PPP
• (Pre)Feasibility studies
• Sustainability
• Project management
• Terminal planning
• Port operations
• Nautical advice
• Port and terminal scan
• Dredging and marine
• Hinterland logistics
• Inland waterways
• Materials handling
• Design and engineering
• Tendering and procurement
• Supervision