COZUMEL TERMINAL MARITIMA DEL SURESTE PIER RECONSTRUCTION
Cozumel Island, Mexico

The Cozumel International Cruise Pier, located on the West coast of Cozumel Island, Mexico, was severely damaged during Hurricane Wilma in October 2005. One cause of pier damage was believed to be vertical uplift wave forces on the pier decks. Coast & Harbor Engineering, Inc. (CHE) was requested to perform wave analysis and numerical modeling to determine the uplift wave force design criteria for an extreme storm/hurricane event.

CHE performed the following project tasks:

		Performed a historical data review of the project site and surrounding areas including regional bathymetric surveys, wind, wave, tidal elevations, hurricane data and previous reports.
		Performed an extreme wave prediction analysis using SWAN numerical modeling.
		Wave loading design criteria was developed using empirical and numerical methods, laboratory data, analytical methods (Cuomo & Tirindelli of CHE), and volume of fluids (VOF) numerical model.