BergerWorld: 3rd Quarter 2007

Mayaguez (population 98,434) is the fifth largest municipality in Puerto Rico. Founded in 1760 on the western shore of the island, the city's economy relies heavily on trade and tourism. Spanning 16 acres along the Caribbean Sea, the port has a 1,289-foot berth with an 18- to 29-foot depth near the pier and a 30- to 35-foot depth at the entrance channel, serving a number of cruise and cargo vessels.

The Berger Group was selected by the Port of Mayaguez Commission to assist in the selection of a private-sector firm or joint venture to operate, manage and administer the port under a lease agreement. The Team reviewed current port operations as well as existing studies and master plans regarding dredging needs, market opportunities and facility expansion, and evaluated projected cargo and passenger growth. Upon completion of the reviews, Berger prepared recommendations for structuring the lease agreement and technical performance criteria for regulating the port operator. Finally, the Berger team was responsible for preparing the Request for Proposals (RFP) package and guidelines to be distributed to potential bidders.