The Empresa Portuaria San Antonio (EPSA) reported the completion of the conservation and reinforcement works of the breakwater, an infrastructure originally built in 1912 and essential for the safe and efficient operation of Chile’s main port.
The works involved the elevation and modernization of the parapet wall, which now reaches 11 meters in height, through the installation of more than 5,100 cubic meters of concrete and 3,400 cubic meters of prefabricated blocks, along with a structural recharge of 2,300 cubic meters of rockfill. These interventions made it possible to strengthen the structure, extend its useful life, and improve its performance in the face of extreme wave events.
The project, whose investment exceeded 10 million dollars, was executed from July 2024 without interrupting logistical activity and aimed to strengthen the port’s resilience to the effects of climate change and the possibility of mega-earthquakes.
In this regard, for the engineering design, the state-owned company integrally considered the forces generated by earthquakes and those originating from waves, including extreme storm surges, understanding that both phenomena can coincide or reinforce each other. This approach allows the structure to resist, in the same scenario, seismic accelerations, hydrodynamic pressure, and wave impact, ensuring its stability in complex conditions and guaranteeing the operational continuity of the port.
The project involved coordinated work between the Puerto San Antonio team, the contractors, and the concessionaire San Antonio Terminal Internacional (STI), which enabled the development of complex tasks without affecting port operations. Likewise, the work generated a positive impact on the local community, as 80% of the workers who participated in the construction are residents of the province of San Antonio.
The general manager of Puerto San Antonio, Ramón Castañeda, commented that “the completion of these works marks a key step in strengthening an infrastructure essential for the port. We have reinforced this historic breakwater that is over 100 years old and is now prepared to face the most demanding weather conditions, guaranteeing the safety of operations. This project represents the port company’s commitment to resilience engineering, aimed at ensuring the port’s operational continuity.”
“The most remarkable thing is that the works were completed without recording accidents that affected people, an especially relevant achievement considering the complexity of the tasks and the operational environment in which they were carried out. Furthermore, the work was completed ahead of schedule and in accordance with the assigned budget, which is a key indicator in high-standard port engineering,” he added.
Castañeda added that these works are part of the state-owned company’s long-term vision and are part of the development of a powerful investment plan in operational projects. “The modernization of the breakwater not only improves the protection of the current port but is also a fundamental pillar that reinforces the importance of the Nuevo Modelo Logístico that we are promoting as a comprehensive strategy aimed at ensuring the competitiveness of the port and, consequently, the competitiveness of Chilean foreign trade,” he emphasized.
