Seaport Consultants - Port and Transportation Consulting

A feasibility study was undertaken for a newly privatized South American railroad seeking to investigate container intermodal transport as a way of diversifying its traffic base. The project began with numerous shipper and carrier interviews, as well as a review of regional traffic flow data by commodity and origin/destination.

A potential market was defined and an intermodal system proposed for a principal main-line corridor. Equipment needs were analyzed and several candidate rolling stock types - both US and European - were identified.

Likely sites for inland intermodal terminals and container freight stations were chosen and concept plans for these installations developed, as were initial construction and operating costs.

Overall system costs were then developed and analyzed.

As a follow-on to this initial assessment, a marine container terminal location was identified at a greenfield site. Seaport Consultants, Inc. managed a terminal concept design as well as a preliminary wind and wave dynamics study of the site. Facility capital and operating costs were developed and total system transport costs described.