San Juan Cruise Port Begins Process to Rebuild Historic Pier 1 in Old San Juan
The project, which also includes the rehabilitation of part of the waterfront promenade, will be funded through a multimillion-dollar allocation of federal CDBG-MIT funds.
San Juan Cruise Port (SJCP) has launched the process to rebuild the historic Pier 1 in Old San Juan, a project that also includes the partial rehabilitation of the Gilberto Concepción de Gracia waterfront promenade to improve the infrastructure supporting the island’s cruise industry.
As part of the first phase, SJCP has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to hire the firm that will provide architectural, engineering, and design services, as well as the environmental and technical studies required to develop the project.
The project includes the demolition and reconstruction of Pier 1, which has remained out of service due to structural deficiencies. The rehabilitation of the Gilberto Concepción de Gracia promenade will cover the section between [the original article appears to be missing the remainder of this sentence].
“Pier 1 is the most historic pier we have in Old San Juan. It welcomed the very best vessels and has been closed for many years, particularly after Hurricane Maria (in 2017),” said Norberto Negrón Díaz, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Ports Authority (PRPA), in a telephone interview with El Nuevo Día.
The reconstruction is part of SJCP’s plan to modernize the Old San Juan waterfront, where transit cruise ships primarily dock. Pier 1’s location allows cruise passengers to disembark within walking distance of the historic district’s main attractions and businesses. Once construction is complete, the operator plans to use the pier for smaller, luxury cruise vessels.
Multimillion-Dollar Grant
Although the project’s final cost has not yet been determined, SJCP explained that it will depend on the technical scope established during the design phase.
“The expectation is that most of the project will be financed through the grant awarded by the Department of Housing using CDBG-MIT funds,” the company said in a written statement.
Last January, during the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) in Madrid, Spain, the Puerto Rico government announced the allocation of $98.2 million in CDBG-MIT funds for the reconstruction of Pier 1 and the adjacent pedestrian promenade. Negrón added that the project will also receive a smaller amount of funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
He further explained that, under the agreement between the Department of Housing and SJCP, the Puerto Rico Ports Authority will oversee and monitor the project as administrator of the public-private partnership concession contract, while also assisting with the environmental review process to expedite development.
“We will help with the environmental permitting process to eliminate several bureaucratic steps,” he emphasized.
CDBG-MIT funds are federal resources administered by Puerto Rico’s Department of Housing and are designated for mitigation projects and the reconstruction of critical infrastructure following major disasters.
In the case of Pier 1, the project will be financed primarily with federal funds because its reconstruction was not included in the original investment program established by Global Ports Holding (GPH), SJCP’s parent company. GPH is recognized as the world’s largest independent cruise port operator and manages San Juan’s cruise piers under a Public-Private Partnership (P3).
Seeking Highly Qualified Firms
Although SJCP’s current solicitation is limited to the design phase, the selected firm will also be responsible for obtaining the permits required before construction can begin.
The port operator said it is seeking firms with proven experience in maritime and port infrastructure projects, as well as expertise in managing federally funded projects.
“We have received interest from multiple firms and will continue the evaluation process in accordance with the parameters established in the Request for Proposals and the regulations governing this type of funding,” the company stated.
SJCP added that compliance with the administrative, technical, and regulatory requirements associated with federal funding will be a decisive factor in evaluating proposals, ensuring “a transparent process consistent with all applicable regulations.”
New Pier Expected Before 2033
A pre-proposal meeting and project briefing for interested firms is scheduled for August 6. Proposals will be due 25 days later. SJCP expects to award the contract in September and finalize the agreement the following month.
Once the design phase is completed and all necessary permits are secured, the company estimates construction will take three to four years.
“I don’t intend for these projects to take five, six, or seven years,” Negrón Díaz said.
The goal is to complete the project before the federal funding expires in 2033.
Global Ports Holding assumed operations of San Juan’s cruise piers in 2024. The company is nearing completion of the first phase of investments required under its public-private partnership agreement with the Puerto Rico government, representing more than $100 million in improvements to the Pan American East and West piers, in addition to the $75 million concession payment made at the beginning of the contract with the Puerto Rico Ports Authority.
The Pan American West Pier was inaugurated in May of this year.
Last month, GPH announced the promotion of Puerto Rican executive Clarivette Díaz, General Manager of SJCP, to the position of Regional Director for Latin America, while she will continue serving as General Manager of the local operation.
Díaz explained that the company’s immediate priority is to complete work at the Pan American East Pier before the start of the 2026-2027 cruise season, which runs from October through April. Afterward, the company will focus on the redevelopment of Piers 11 and 12, a project expected to require an investment of more than $200 million.
SJCP also anticipates that Puerto Rico will surpass 2 million cruise passengers for the first time in its history by the end of this year.
According to Díaz, the concession agreement stipulated that GPH would raise capital to develop new infrastructure once San Juan reached 1.8 million cruise visitors annually.
