Metocean study & mooring, berthing and navigation analysis

Curaçao Ports Authority (CPA) plans to construct a second jetty, called the Mega Cruise Pier II, near shore at Otrobanda. The selected location is at the west side of the existing Mega Cruise Pier I, which was constructed over 15 years ago.

To gather information for use in the preparation of a Basis of Design and follow-on structural design and engineering effort a navigation study, mooring and berthing analysis and a metocean study were conducted by Svašek Hydraulics.

The metocean study focussed on the mapping of local wind, waves, currents, water levels and air pressure for both daily and extreme events. 20 years of wave conditions were derived with a SWAN model of the entire Caribbean Sea. 40 years of wind and air pressure data was available from the local airport. Currents and water level model time series were gathered from online available data sources. All model data was validated by a full year of available measurements at the location of the existing Cruise Pier. In combination with NOAA’s hurricane database all information for a detailed metocean study was present.

In cooperation with the “Royal Boatmen’s Association Eendracht” (KRVE) a workshop with CPA, the harbor master, the pilots, tug masters and the Harbor Safety Inspection was organized. The focus of this workshop was to discuss the navigation and mooring aspects, procedures and daily practice at the present Mega Cruise Pier I, and on the translation of the present knowledge and experience towards the new Mega Cruise Pier.

With the input of the workshop a mooring, berthing and navigation analysis based on expert judgement supported by several Optimoor calculations was performed.