Harbors

Congressman Ed Case visits new Kapalama Container Terminal Project By: Derek Chow

L to R: Kneeling – William Makanui, KCT Project Manager. Standing – Ben Ahakuelo, Yogi Kwong Engineers; Dean Watase, Senior Planner; Dung Vo, Deputy Engineering Program Manager; Arnold Liu, Planning Section Head; Congressman Ed Case; HDOT Director Jade Butay; Harbors Deputy Director Derek Chow; and Carter Luke, Engineering Program Manager.

On April 8, 2021, US Congressman Ed Case was hosted by the Hawaii Dept of Transportation to a briefi ng and site visit of the Kapalama Container Terminal and future modifi cation features in Honolulu Harbor that would address sea level rise and incorporate resiliency into new harbor features. Dung Vo, Deputy Engineering Program Manager, explained how the new Kapalama Container Terminal will increase cargo handling effi ciencies and that the construction project would be completed in early 2024 at a total cost of over $500M. Dean Watase, Senior Planner, explained how sea level rise will require major improvements to existing pier structures and may cause changes in cargo handling, however, a

OAil82021 USC EdC lock/dam system that controls water levels inside the harbor even with the ocean rising, would eliminate the need to adjust pier structures and avoid operational disruptions. Congressman Case was keenly aware of the need to adapt to sea level rise and for a secondary inlet/outlet to Honolulu Harbor should the main channel become blocked like what happened at the Suez Canal when a 1,312 ft cargo ship turned sideways in the channel. He indicated that seeking federal assistance for needed modifi cations and improvements in Honolulu Harbor were amongst his top priorities.

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