MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Puerto Williams, extreme south Chile also improving infrastructure for the cruise industry

Although the dock has not yet been inaugurated, (waiting for the second stage), more than 30 cruise vessels have already used the structure this year

Puerto Williams on the island of Navarino, extreme south of Chile, sitting on the Beagle Channel is improving its infrastructure with the construction of the new multipurpose dock designed to accommodate calls from the growing cruise industry operating in the area.

The project recently saw the end of its initial stage, which involved the construction of a 130-meter front head for mooring, loading, and unloading of passengers and goods.

Working in partnership with the contractor, ShibataFenderTeam delivered 10 sets of Cell Fenders Systems (CSS 1450, G1.4) and 10 sets of Cell Fender Systems (CSS 1700, G1.0). The project scope also included 13 T-Head bollards of 30-tones capacity each.

Challenges emerged early in the project due to the limited concrete of the substructure. The SFT in-house engineering team therefore designed a customized solution, proposing special anchors that span througu the structure to safely secure the systems. Additionally, the extreme cold weather required careful material considerations. Selecting the appropriate grade of rubber, for example, ensured it would stiffen less, thereby maintaining optimal energy absorption and not compromising the fenders’ performance.

Although the dock has not yet been inaugurated, (waiting for the second stage), more than 30 cruise vessels have already used the structure this year. Puerto Williams is also the capital of the Chilean Antarctic Province, and has rapidly become a departure and arrival point for cruises exploring Antarctica and surrounding regions. 

Silversea Cruises and Ponant are among the cruise lines that offer itineraries visiting Puerto Williams. These often include visits to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula, as well as the Drake Passage.

It can be said that Puerto Williams is a major hub for scientific activity related to Antarctica and the islands south of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, openly competing with Ushuaia in Argentina and even Punta Arenas in the Magellan Strait