Rafael Cordero Santiago Port of the Americas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Port of The Americas |
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| Location | |
| Location | Barrio La Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Coordinates | 17°58′09″N 66°37′05″W / 17.969099°N 66.617918°W |
| Details | |
| Opened | 1804 |
| Operated by | Autonomous Municipality of Ponce |
| Owned by | Ponce Municipal Government |
| Type of harbor | Natural/Artificial |
| Land area | 1,000 acres (1.6 sq mi) |
| Piers | 8 |
| Executive Director | Carlos I Mejias Algarin |
| Cranes | 3 |
| Channel depth | 50 feet (15 m) |
| Statistics | |
| Annual cargo tonnage | 623,271 |
| Annual container volume | 250,000 TEU |
| Main exports | Scrap metal, chemicals, clinker, cement |
| Main imports | Coal, lumber, molasses, syrup, chemicals, gypsum |
| Rail traffic | 18,500 tons |
The Rafael Cordero Santiago Port of the Americas (also called PLA) is a very large port being built in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Its goal is to turn the current Port of Ponce into a huge international shipping center. This new port will be like smaller versions of the big ports in Singapore and Rotterdam.
The Port of the Americas is Puerto Rico's main port in the Caribbean. It is also the deepest port in the entire the Caribbean, at 50 feet deep. This depth allows very large ships to dock there.
The port was once managed by a special government group. As of 2012, a new group called Autoridad del Puerto de Ponce took over. This group said the new port will be able to store 2.2 million TEUs (large shipping containers). They also reported that the port handled over 500,000 tons of cargo in 2007. They expected it to handle over 1.5 million tons by 2012.
In 2011, the government of Puerto Rico gave control of the port to the Ponce city government. Governor Luis Fortuño signed a law to create the Ponce Port Authority (APP). This made the port an independent group managed by the city of Ponce.
Contents
Port of Ponce: The Original Port
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The original port, called the Port of Ponce, is located at the southern tip of Ponce. It is about 1.5 miles south of where two main roads meet. This port was officially created on February 28, 1789, by Spanish King Carlos IV de Borbón. It began working as a commercial port in 1804.
Port History: From 1800 to Today
Early Years (1800–1950)
Between 1800 and 1850, the Port of Ponce became very important for Ponce's economy. Many commercial buildings, stores, and warehouses were built nearby. By 1890, this port was exporting 33.2% of all goods from Puerto Rico. This was more than the port in San Juan.
The city of Ponce has managed the port since 1911. That year, Mayor Moret received permission from the United States government. This allowed Ponce to operate the Port of Ponce forever. The port was very important for the island's economy. It helped with the sugar cane and coffee industries in the early 1900s. In 1913, the city finished building a covered pier made of concrete and steel. It had deep water and connections to railroads. By 1918, almost 20% of all goods coming into or leaving the island went through this port. The Port of Ponce is still the only port in Puerto Rico owned and run by a city government. It has 8 piers.
Mid-1900s Changes
The Port of Ponce became less busy in the second half of the 1900s. This happened because farming on the island slowed down. Also, the government moved most shipping to the San Juan Port in the capital city. The Port of San Juan grew a lot and became Puerto Rico's main shipping port. The Port of Ponce was left to handle mostly local shipping. It is thought that 90% of all goods in Puerto Rico went through the San Juan Port. However, the Port of Ponce still handles about 40% of Puerto Rico's "loose" shipping traffic. Because of these changes, the mayor of Ponce wanted the city government to take over the Port of Ponce.
Improvements in the 1990s
After the city took over, many improvements were made to the Port of Ponce. These happened mostly when Rafael "Churumba" Cordero Santiago was mayor. Roads were fixed, and a short Port of Ponce Railroad system was added. This railroad was for moving oil and chemicals from ships to storage tanks. A cruise ship terminal was also built. The port had one crane before the Port of the Americas project started in 2004. A second crane was bought soon after. There were also plans to add a free trade zone within the port.
Recent Years (2010s)
On December 12, 2011, the government of Puerto Rico officially gave control of the Port of The Americas to the Ponce city government. Governor Luis Fortuño Burset signed a law to create the Autoridad del Puerto de Ponce (Ponce Port Authority). This new authority would manage both the Port of Ponce and the Port of the Americas.
The port aims to become a major international shipping center. The city is still looking for the best ways to use the port's potential. Some ideas have faced challenges, like in 2003. At that time, there was strong opposition to moving freight traffic from San Juan to Ponce. The city also wants to attract more cruise ships. Facilities have been built for cruise ships. Two cruise lines, Holland America and Celebrity, sometimes stop there. The city plans to build a new tourist pier that will be 1,200 feet long. This will allow two very large cruise ships to dock at the same time. In 2011, this project was estimated to cost $57.6 million and create 600 jobs. Cruise ships have been docking at the Ponce port since at least 1979. The city is also thinking about using Mercedita Airport for tourists who want to fly in and then start a cruise from Ponce.
Port of the Americas: The Future Port
Building the Future Port
Records show that as early as 1979, city officials from Ponce visited Washington, D.C. They were looking for $23 million to help pay for a very large port project. At that time, Puerto Rico's economy relied a lot on factories that exported goods. These factories received special tax help from the government. Leaders realized that Puerto Rico needed to make its economy more diverse. They wanted to attract more factories and businesses. So, the government decided to invest a lot in tourism, like new cruise ship terminals in San Juan. They also started plans to make Puerto Rico a top place for manufacturing and shipping in the Caribbean. In the late 1990s, the idea of a huge port gained more support. This happened after the U.S. federal government decided to reduce tax help for factories in Puerto Rico. Also, nearby countries like Jamaica and the Dominican Republic announced plans for their own large ports.
Where to Build the Megaport?
The government of Puerto Rico began studying where to build this large port. They looked at land across the island and studied economies in the Caribbean. They also visited big ports like the Port of Singapore and the Port of Rotterdam. This helped them understand how a large port works and its impact on local economies. These studies showed that the Caribbean needed a big port to move goods. This port would help distribute products from Asia and the U.S. west coast to the eastern parts of North, Central, and South America.
Puerto Rico had several advantages over other Caribbean countries. These included good roads and airports, strong ties with the United States, and being close to the Mona Passage. The Mona Passage is a deep channel between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Most ships use it when traveling between the Panama Canal and the U.S. eastern coast.
During this research, three possible locations were considered for the large port:
- San Juan Port: This idea involved moving most local shipping from San Juan to other ports. Then, the Port of San Juan would be expanded into a huge international port.
- Ponce/Guayanilla/Peñuelas Port: This option suggested keeping most local shipping in San Juan. The Port of Ponce would become a huge international port. Extra port facilities would be built in the nearby towns of Guayanilla and Peñuelas.
- Roosevelt Roads Port: This location was considered after the US Navy closed its naval base in Ceiba. The base had good piers, a small airport, and lots of undeveloped land. The plan was to expand the naval base's port into a large port. This option was complicated because the area was controlled by the U.S. federal government, not the local or island government. It would have needed a special agreement or a low-cost sale.
Ponce Was Chosen
Ponce's mayor, Rafael Cordero Santiago, worked very hard to have the large port built in Ponce. He passed away in early 2004. He argued that Ponce already had good port facilities, a nearby airport, and enough roads. It also had about 1,000 acres of land next to the port ready for development. Expanding the San Juan Port was not a good idea because it had no more space. Building the port in Guayanilla was stopped due to environmental concerns.
In the end, the government decided to build the Port of the Americas in Ponce. To honor the late mayor, the project was named the Rafael Cordero Santiago Port of the Americas.
How the Port is Managed
The Port of the Americas project is owned and managed by the Port of the Americas Authority (APA). This is a partnership between the city of Ponce and the government of Puerto Rico. The current executive director of APA is Ramon Torres Morales. He also leads the current Port of Ponce. The Authority has a board of directors. This board includes Puerto Rico's Secretary of Economic Development, the Director of the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company, Puerto Rico's Secretary of Transportation, and the mayors of Ponce, Guayanilla, and Peñuelas. Other business and community leaders are also on the board. It is estimated that the Port of the Americas will create 100,000 jobs.
Building Phases of the Port
The Port of the Americas construction is happening in four main stages. These stages will add 3,000 feet of quay side (where ships dock) to the Port of Ponce. They will also make the port entrance and nearby bay 50 feet deep. Plus, land next to the port will be turned into new container storage areas. This project will allow the Port of Ponce to handle three very large ships at once. Before, Puerto Rico's ports were not deep enough for these ships. The port's yearly capacity will increase to 1.4 million shipping containers. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $750 million.
- Phase 1: This first stage added 1,200 feet of quay to the existing piers. This allowed for four modern cranes. This phase finished ahead of schedule in late 2004.
- Phase 2: This stage began in 2005. It involves making the Ponce bay, the entrance channel, and the piers 50 feet deep. This will make them the deepest in the Caribbean. About 5.5 million cubic meters of soil will be removed from the sea floor. This phase also includes developing 18 acres of land next to the piers. This will increase the port's storage capacity by 250,000 containers per year.
- Phase 3: This phase plans to turn land next to the port into a 50-foot deep canal. This will add 1,500 feet of quay side for more ships. Other areas near the future canal will be developed to increase the total yearly capacity to 700,000 containers.
- Phase 4: The final stage will add another 50-foot deep canal. This will add 1,500 feet more of quay side. Land next to it will be developed into new container yards. This will bring the port's total yearly capacity to 1,400,000 containers.
Port Development and Growth
On January 21, 2010, two huge cranes arrived at the Port of the Americas from Shanghai, China. These cranes cost $22.7 million. Besides these two new cranes, the port also has one Gottwald crane for "loose" freight. It also has seven Rubber Tire Gantry cranes, bought in 2008, for handling container freight.
On September 26, 2011, the Governor of Puerto Rico transferred all control of the Port of the Americas to the Ponce city government. It would be managed by a new city-level group called "Autoridad del Puerto de Ponce" (Ponce Port Authority). The previous island-level group stopped existing. This transfer became law on December 12, 2011.
The new large cranes were first used for business on December 21, 2011. They unloaded five containers for Campamento Santiago in Salinas, Puerto Rico. This operation needed help from many groups. These included the Ponce Municipal Police Marine Unit, the Puerto Rico Police, the Puerto Rico Fire Corps, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Puerto Rico National Guard.
Gallery
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Distant view of the Port of The Americas from Vigia hill
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The original port quay crane is still in operation
See also
- Transportation in Puerto Rico
- Port of Mayagüez
- Port of San Juan
- Ship Transport
- In Spanish: Puerto de las Américas Rafael Cordero Santiago para niños
