Port of Suape Grain Terminal

The Suape Industrial Complex is a large port facility and industrial zone located 40 km south of Recife in Pernumbuco, Brazil. The total area allocated to Suape is 30,500 hectares (76,000 acres), and is divided into several zones.

The "port zone" comprises of about 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres), and is along the ocean shore line. The port zone has two areas, and existing breakwater and is separated from the mainland by a natural reef. The breakwater was constructed to protect the entrance dredged through the natural reef parallel to the shoreline. The inner area is developed to increase existing depths in some areas, opening a 300-meter entrance in the reef, dredging 900 meters of inner harbor channel to 15.5 m. and reclaiming 200 hectares of land.

The demand for the grain terminal was based on current and future consumption for feed requirements. Projected import consumption is estimated to be in excess of 2 million tons annually. Primary consumption is feed for the poultry industry. The berth is designed to accommodate panamax-size (70,000 DWT) ships and is supported on precast concrete piles. The grain facilities are designed to handle and store 100,000 tons of grain. The facilities are also designed for the export of soy beans.

Black & Veatch performed the feasibility study for this project which included the following major tasks:

• Review and evaluate suitability of breakwaters and berths, including assessment of geo-technical and other information.
  
• Commodity forecast and market analysis.
  
• Analysis of terminal operations and planning, including engineering designs and master planning.
  
• Analysis of infrastructure and transport support requirements.
  
• Project schedule, finance, and operations.
  
• Environmental aspects.