25/03/2026
ForSHORE: Soletanche Bachy Fast-Tracks Construction of the Celebration Key Cruise Terminal in The Bahamas
On 19 July, the first Carnival Cruises ship docked at the new quay in Freeport, on the island of Grand Bahama. This event marked the commissioning of the first quay and the adjacent “Celebration Key” tourist complex, and officially concluded Phase I of our contract. The pier was built by the SBC ISD Ltd joint venture, comprising ISD (a Bahamian company), Soletanche Bachy Colombia and Soletanche Bachy International.
A Phase II currently being delivered
At the same time, Phase II of the project has taken shape with the construction of a second berth, parallel to the first. Together, they will now make it possible to accommodate up to four cruise ships simultaneously, for a maximum capacity of 24,000 visitors per day.
To reduce the duration of noise disturbances related to pile driving, additional marine resources were deployed for this second phase. The Soljetty® platform, already crucial during Phase I, was used again, with a targeted role in installing the prefabricated quay elements.
As a reminder, the Soljetty® is an internally developed platform system that allows a heavy crane (200 tonnes on this project) to move directly on the driven piles.
Radically different working conditions
Whilst the structure of the quay and the operating procedures remained broadly similar between the two phases, the conditions under which the work was carried out, however, changed significantly.
Phase II marked the transition from a supply regime relying mainly on road transport to one relying exclusively on sea transport, excluding staff transport. This arrangement makes progress particularly dependent on weather conditions on the open sea.
Supplies are transported from:
- a rear base located 8 km away,
- a temporary loading quay, built specifically for the project 1 km from the structure, enabling the transfer of approximately 1,000 skips of concrete.
A project under control despite significant constraints
Despite significant logistical constraints, exacerbated by the site’s insularity – an island… on an island – and the constant interaction with the complex’s tourist operations, the project is currently two months ahead of the contractual schedule.
This achievement is the result of the teams’ commitment, forward-thinking logistics and the project’s ability to adapt to a demanding environment. It once again demonstrates Soletanche Bachy’s expertise in marine works, available under the ForSHORE brand.
Delivery of Phase II is scheduled for the end of April, confirming the positive momentum of the project.
