Roatan,
Honduras
Central America has gained popularity as a cruise ship
destination, and to meet the demand Royal Caribbean Cruises,
Ltd., (RCCL) retained Coastal Systems to provide a design/build
approach to expand the existing cruise ship terminal in
Roatan, Honduras. Coastal Systems worked closely with
architects and RCCL to prepare a master plan for the destination
that incorporates passenger arrival improvements and retail/commercial
development with adequate parking. The master plan includes
a hotel and waterfront village development that will serve
as a cruise ship destination port by day and offer a nightlife
for local residents. A phased approach for the design
and construction of the expansion area was prepared in
conjunction with the approval process for environmental
permits and submerged lands concessions. Phase II of the
project will include the town center hotel, retail/commercial
development and a marina. Field
investigations were conducted, including hydrographic
surveys and marine resource mapping, to design the land
reclamation project. A project impact minimization analysis
was completed to address reef resources on the south
side of the cruise ship pier, and a reclamation project
designed at the north side of the pier. A mitigation
plan was prepared for the anticipated reef impacts,
which included the relocation of coral reef resources.
A coastal engineering analysis, which included design
winds and waves, was completed to provide design storm
surge and armor stone revetment criteria for the facility,
as well as to provide design conditions in future mooring
analyses of expanded cruise ship berthing area. The
coastal engineering analysis included numerical modeling
with the DHI MIKE21 software to evaluate hurricane impacts
to the area. The design-build approach allowed for the
Phase I land reclamation project to begin in December
2006, only months after completion of the master plan.
In addition, the shore protection revetment will be
constructed using locally available armor stone.
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