Tuxpan Terminal

S&ME provided geotechnical services to SSA Mexico and Berger/Abam for a planned container terminal.  S&ME had previously worked with Berger/Abam on another marine terminal with soft coastal soils. The proposed site in Mexico was anticipated to have some of the same difficulties.

Primary components of the initial development plans were:

  • A 1,825 foot by 140 foot marginal wharf
  • Dredging the berths to a depth of 46 feet
  • Increasing the elevation of the area behind the wharf by 5-61/2 feet to an elevation of almost ten feet
  • Paving a container yard
  • Constructing support building and other structures

The site consisted of 96 acres along the south bank of the Tuxpan River in Mexico about two miles upriver from the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico.  The site suffered flooding during each rainy season. Debris from dead trees had littered the shoreline because of frequent hurricanes that caused flooding in nearby mountains. Peat from decomposing trees was found at depths up to 80 feet. Heavy container loads stacked on this soil type would be an engineering challenge.

We provided planning and observation of the field exploration, including soil test borings and cone penetration test (CPT) soundings on land and in the river.

Our team worked closely with the local contractor, a firm contracted by SSA Mexico, to help improve field exploration efficiency and data quality. The S&ME project manager was able to communicate easily with locals.

With the field work complete, our team performed the analyses and provided the engineering and design, with recommendations for wharf foundation, dredge slope stability, surcharge of container yard areas, pavement design and building foundations.