TO: All interested parties



THE PERFECT BARGE TERMINAL SOLUTION FOR SAN PEDRO



A concrete pier similar to the one in front that has served San Pedro for decades is my proposed solution for the barge terminal.



Everyone agrees that the location of the marina in the back is perfect except accessing it with the barges. The biggest problem is the shallow rock that makes it too expensive to blast a channel wide and deep enough to accommodate the numerous barges that are required to service the needs of San Pedro. That rock can be our best friend.



We have plenty competent contractors in Belize who could build this very quickly and relatively inexpensively and there are no unknown perils to deal with such as the problems associated with the current marina in the back.......no rocks to blast.



There would be no problem of having to drive piles through the rock.

Simply cast them on top of the rock. Engineers could easily calculate the surface area required for the piles to support the load and cast the required number and size piers in place right on top of the rock. They could go right over the little island in front if they wished. I won't go into small details, that is for the engineers but here is some basic ideas.



All that is required is to build a long concrete pier beginning at the end of the present unusable marina and extend it out as far as necessary. Near the marina It should be wide enough to support two way traffic until it reaches a water depth that is sufficient for the tugs and barges to tie up on each side. Then it should be widened enough to provide room to unload on both sides of the pier and trucks to be loading at the same time. It may be nice to have a turnaround on the end of the pier so empty trucks could turn around before loading and be ready to exit when loaded.



Another possibility (and my favorite) is make the pier just wide enough for one way truck traffic and put tee's off the pier where the barges could tie up and unload thereby leaving the main pier always open for truck traffic.

Trucks could drive past their tee and back onto it.



The appropriate authority could charge rent to barge owners for the exclusive use of the tees. If desired the appropriate authority or barge owners could build a warehouse or just a roof on the tee so they could unload in rainy weather and their freight would be kept dry and provide secure at night. Electric overhead cranes could be installed to expedite the unloading of the barge and even used for loading the trucks. Barge owners could turn their barge around and return to Belize immediately.

This would allow them to operate with less barges and tugs. etc, etc



And lastly, this pier could easily be lengthened and additional tees added as necessary without any interruption of service.



All contractors with the expertise to build this pier should get engaged right away.



Sincerely,



Bill Wilkinson

Resident of San Pedro