Port Freeport Velasco Terminal

The Velasco Terminal Phase I Berth 7 project is an 800-foot by 109-foot berth that is utilized for unloading container ships. Port Freeport is one of the fastest-growing ports on the Gulf Coast and is currently ranked as the 14th largest port in the United States in terms of foreign tonnage.

This project gives Port Freeport the capability to unload one to two container ships per day. The new Velasco Terminal allows up to 730 additional container ships to be unloaded at Port Freeport each year.

The berth was constructed on 796 auger cast piles measuring over 100-feet deep.  The front wall is  a combination of steel sheet pile and a cast-in-place concrete wall. In addition to construction on the actual berth, McCarthy has also completed a marine building that consists of four restrooms, a break room and an electrical and security room.

One of the biggest challenges of this project was installing the precast concrete and steel piles in the correct location at a productive rate since these piles are unusually long for a project of this type, measuring over 100-feet deep. Another project challenge involved accessing the site and drainage, ensuring the site surface remains relatively dry for construction. Also, due to the site's location off the Gulf Coast, McCarthy was tasked with preparing the project for high-wind resistance in order to prime the wharf for potential hurricanes and tropical storms that might have developed in this coastal area.