The objective of the works is to offer the users an improvement in the sailing conditions of the River Plate, opening new ways for the development of MERCOSUR.

The Channel extends from km 39 of the access channel to Buenos Aires up to km 0 of theUruguay River, covering a total length of about 106 kilometers.

Martín García Channel

The Channel was opened for navigation in 1892 with a maximum depth of 19 feet, being dredged sporadically and to different depths until 1988.

The former Martín García Channel was actually composed of a group of seven different channels which depths ranged from 15 to 55 feet.

In July 1996 the contract between the River Plate's Administrator Commission  (CARP) and Riovia S.A. for the dredging, buoying and maintenance of the Martín García area channels was signed.

In December 1996 the works were formally opened in Nueva Palmira by presidents Carlos Menem of Argentina and Julio María Sanguinetti of Uruguay.

In January 1999 the construction works were finished and the new Martín García channel was opened for navigation.

ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THE WORKS

• Comisión Administradora del Río de la Plata (CARP): bi-national (argentinian-uruguayan) administrator body.

• Riovia S.A.: concessionaire of the dredging works, buoying and maintenance of  the Martin Garcia Channel.

• Servicio de Consultoría (SEC): consultancy service constituted by  Haecon N.V., Estudios de Ingeniería Hidráulica S.A. (EIH), Consultores en Obra Pública y Desarrollo S.A. (CEOPYD) and Coopers & Lybrand/Harteneck y López y Cia.

PHASES OF THE WORKS

The works were divided in 4 phases :

• DESIGN
• CONSTRUCTION
• MAINTENANCE
• TRANSFER

Design Phase

• Design depth: 32 feet LIMB (Inferior limit of the average of all the low tides)
• Design vessel : Length 245 m - Breadth 32 m - Maximum speed 7 knots.
• One way navigation with passing zone.
• Use of the tides.

The following studies were performed::

• Bathymetric surveys: 1994 – 1996
• Soil explorations (drillings)
• Geo-electrical explorations 
• Statistical registry and analysis of the tides.

Design procedure:

• Selection of the route: Buenos Aires Channel / New Channel.
• Model from Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI).
• Fast-Time and Full-Mission simulations performed by MSCN (The Netherlands).
• Trace of the Channel according to bathymetry.
• Curves adjustment.

Construction (January 1997 - January 1999)

• Dredging of the Martín García area channels down to 32 feet depth at zero tide to enable the navigation of vessels up to 245 m length and 32 m breadth.

• Supplying and installing a buoying system in the channels.

• Establishing  a toll collection and traffic control system with its administration being operational as from the opening of the Channel (the toll fee is established by the CARP).

Maintenance (January 1999 - January 2009)

• Performing the necessary dredging works to preserve the navigation conditions in the channels as achieved by the construction works.

• The maintenance of the buoying system and safeguard its operation during the whole of the concession period.

• Administration and operation of the toll collection and traffic monitoring system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE WORKS

The dredging works consists of the subaqueous excavation of the soil and are essential for the construction and maintenance of  navigation channels and acesses to ports. Therefore, they play a fundamental role in the economy of a country with a foreign trade depending on the maritime or fluvial transport.

The complete process consists in the excavation, transport and disposal or utilization of the dredged material. The material varies depending on the project and even within a project it can vary depending on the different zones. The material can be composed of fine sediments such as silt and clay, gross sediments such as sand and gravel and hard materials such as tuff and rocks.

Dredging Equipment

The dredging equipment can be classified in two groups: mechanical dredgers, excavators or draglines and hydraulic suction dredgers, based in the collection of material from the seabed through suction pipes and pumping equipment.

At the Martín García site the dredging equipment used consisted of hydraulic suction dredgers: cutter suction dredgers and trailing suction hopper dredgers. 

For the construction phase the following dredgers were used:

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN 

The evaluation of the environmental impact and the identification of the appropriate mitigating measures constitutes a key aspect in the works' process. It is also essential to be able to implement the measures and precautions contained in this environmental study. Riovia's environmental action plan (PGA) is the tool that assures the fulfilment of the environmental measures and recommendations which guarantee the achievement of the objetives proposed.

The main objectives:

• To incorporate the environmental variable into the business management.
• To guarantee that the works will be carried out in balance with the natural environment of its influence area.
• To facilitate and control the observance of the current regulations concerning environmental issues, security, hygiene and labour medicine.
• To guarantee a fluent relationship with the competent authorities at all jurisdictional levels, providing  appropriate information mechanisms.
• To carry out a water quality sampling plan to verify that the dredging works do not affect the water quality and a sampling plan to monitor the quality of the sediments in the dumping areas.
• To interpret the results of the monitoring plans and make the necessary adjustments for a better analysis of the effects of the works to the environment.