24534 - Sans Souci Ports, S.A.

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Environmental & Social Review Summary

Project Number

24534

Company Name

Sans Souci Ports S A

Date ESRS Disclosed

Aug 25, 2006

Country

Dominican Republic

Region

Latin America and the Caribbean

Last Updated Date

Jun 3, 2021

Environmental Category

B - Limited

Status

Completed

Previous Events

Approved : Nov 16, 2006
Signed : Nov 22, 2006
Invested : May 10, 2007

Sector

Port and Harbor Operations

Industry

Infrastructure

Department

Regional Industry INF LAC & EUR

Project Description

The project involves the rehabilitation and renovation of the existing Sans Souci and Don Diego cruise ship terminals located on the shores of the Ozama River in Santo Domingo, the capital city of the Dominican Republic. As part of these infrastructure improvements, the project will contribute to the clean-up of existing pollution of and upgrade the navigation channel in the Ozama River.

Overview of IFC's Scope of Review

The review of this investment consisted of appraising technical and environmental information submitted by SSP, including the preliminary environmental diagnostic report (prepared in 2004) and the River Maintenance Plan (prepared in 2006), interviews with senior management personnel, and a terminal site visit by IFC staff.

E & S Project Categorization and Applicable Standard

This is a category B project because a limited number of specific environmental impacts may result which can be avoided or mitigated by adhering to generally recognized performance standards, guidelines or design criteria. Environmental issues associated with this prospective investment include:

- Environmental, health and safety assessment and management;
- Dredging and dredge spoil disposal;
- Construction impacts;
- Operational pollution control and waste management, including river pollution remediation;
- Ship support operations (such as sewage disposal, bilge waste effluent disposal, and fueling services);
- Emergency preparedness and response; and
- Employee health and safety (including training).

Environmental and Social Mitigation Measures

SSP is developing plans to address these issues and to demonstrate that the proposed project will, upon implementation of the specific measures described below, comply with applicable Dominican laws and regulations, MARPOL requirements, and IFC environmental and social policies. Detail on how these potential issues are addressed by SSP follows:

- Environmental, Health and Safety Assessment and Management:

Consistent with the City of Santo Domingo’s ongoing master planning efforts for revitalization of the Santo Domingo Port, SSP is completing the environmental assessment process for the project. Prepared in 2004, a preliminary environmental diagnostic report identified the key environmental, social, and cultural impacts and provided a framework for necessary mitigation measures to be incorporated into the project’s design and operating aspects. More detailed assessment documentation, including an Environmental Management Plan, is currently being prepared and will be submitted to the environmental authorities for review and approval per Dominican law requirements. Since 2004, the public has been kept informed of the project through a range of activities, and additional public consultation will be conducted upon completion of the environmental assessment documentation.

Going forward, SSP will establish appropriate organizational, monitoring, and reporting processes to ensure effective implementation of the Environmental Management Plan.

- Dredging and Dredge Spoil Disposal:

To construct the new cruise ship terminal and marina, over 1 million cubic meters of river sediment will have to be dredged. In addition, ongoing maintenance dredging will have to be conducted (approximately 165,000 cubic meters annually) to maintain appropriate water depths. The material to be dredged consists primarily of river sediments carried downstream by the Ozama and Isabela Rivers, as well as organic and inorganic wastes dumped upstream and carried by river currents. Dredge spoil is to be disposed at an offshore disposal site currently used by the Navy of the Dominican Republic for other dredge disposal activities. As is recommended by the Permanent International Association of Navigation Congress (PIANC), the site has the advantage of being an aerated, well-mixed water body with a depth sufficient to provide good dilution. Consistent with the Dredged Material Framework (DMAF) of the London Convention (1972), SSP is in the process of characterizing the chemical quality and physical characteristics of the material to be disposed at the Navy site to confirm that impacts will be minimized. In addition, SSP will perform water quality monitoring of suspended solids and turbidity before, during and after dredging operations.

- Construction Impacts:

The potential environmental impacts from construction renovation and expansion activities include fugitive dusts, soil erosion, noise, waste management, and additional vehicle traffic movement. SSP and their contractors and subcontractors are expected to control these to acceptable levels through application of standard construction environmental controls and mitigation measures and the recommendations of the environmental assessment, which will be incorporated into the construction contract documents.

- Pollution Control and Waste Management (including, River Pollution Remediation):

Liquid effluents generated at the terminal and marina will be treated and discharged consistent with good international practice. Areas where fuels or other hazardous materials are stored will be constructed within secondary containment structures to contain and prevent any leaks from being released to the environment. Waste oils and other solid and hazardous wastes generated will be periodically collected by a licensed contractor and appropriately recycled as fuel, or disposed at government approved landfills.

Dense, uncontrolled, and informal urban development along the river banks upstream of the terminal and marina contributes significant amounts of organic pollution from untreated sewage discharges. This has led to optimum conditions for the growth of water hyacinths. Not only do these growing plants absorb organic pollutants from sewage, they also take up certain other toxic substances, such as heavy metals, in the river water caused by industrial waste dischargers. Until the government authorities implement long-term wastewater treatment solutions to clean-up the River, SSP intends to place floating barriers in the river to intercept the hyacinths and other floating debris as an interim measure. Material removed by the barriers will be appropriately disposed as part of this effort.

To contribute to the clean-up of the Ozama River, SSP is also working with government authorities to collaborate on the construction of a submerged marine outfall for municipal sewage now generated along the west bank in the area of the old city. Under this proposed scheme, wastewater, which would otherwise continue to drain directly into the River and Caribbean Sea in the general area of the project, would be pumped several kilometers offshore and discharged into the open, marine environment at depths of 50 meters with minimal environmental impact.

- Ship Support Operations:

SSP will ensure that any vessel support services involving bilge and other ship-generated wastewaters and wastes management will be provided consistent with MARPOL requirements by licensed contractors. The ship’s agent arranges for supply of provisions, potable water, and fuel with responsible third parties while berthed at the cruise terminal. SSP will not permit vessels to discharge oily bilges, sludges, and water containing oily mixtures into the harbor, and will conduct inspections and audits regularly to ensure that vessel operators and disposal companies comply with all laws and regulations.

- Emergency Preparedness and Response:

SSP will be responsible for coordinating the planning and response to hazardous materials accidents and emergencies at their terminal and marina, put in place emergency action plans consistent with international maritime conventions (MARPOL 73/78), and will respond to general shipboard emergency response needs and related marine spill response activities. With regard to the landside terminal operations, SSP, or its subcontractors, will also have procedures, trained personnel, and equipment in place for responding to emergencies, including fire, chemical spills and mishaps, accidental release of petroleum products, and medical emergencies.

- Employee Health and Safety:

SSP will implement programs to ensure the health and safety of all employees. Personnel will be issued appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), briefed on its mandatory use, and regularly monitored to ensure it is used properly. Safety rules and guidelines will be established and regularly communicated to employees through internal circulars and training programs. All new employees will receive a basic safety and security presentation and regular training will be conducted for first aid and CPR, fire fighting, and emergency response.

Stakeholder Engagement

**Information on IFC's Policy and Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability can be found at www.ifc.org/sustainability

IFC supports its clients in addressing environmental and social issues arising from their business activities by requiring its real sector clients to set up and administer appropriate grievance mechanisms and/or procedures to address complaints from Affected Communities in relation to environmental and social issues arising from IFC's clients' business activities. Since 2012, IFC's Financial Intermediary clients applying the Performance Standards are required to develop External Communications Mechanisms to receive and review inquiries or complaints from any interested party regarding the E&S risks and impacts of their operations.

For IFC projects that are active or under consideration, individual(s), or their authorized representative(s), who allege they have been or will be adversely affected by E&S risks or impacts arising from IFC's clients' business activities, may submit a complaint to IFC directly for consideration. When receiving an E&S complaint, IFC engages with complainants and works with its clients to find solutions to E&S concerns as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Complaints can be submitted to IFC online at www.ifc.org/escomplaints or by email to EScomplaints@ifc.org.

IFC complaint response is separate from and complementary to IFC’s clients’ project level grievance mechanisms and IFC’s Independent Accountability Mechanism (CAO). Lodging a complaint directly with IFC does not, at any time, restrict access to CAO.

Affected communities have unrestricted access to the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), the independent accountability mechanism for IFC and MIGA. CAO facilitates the resolution of complaints related to IFC and MIGA projects and sub-projects, undertakes reviews of IFC’s and MIGA’s environmental and social compliance, fosters public accountability for their commitments, and enhances the environmental and social performance of IFC and MIGA.

Independent of IFC and MIGA management and reporting directly to the IFC and MIGA Boards of Executive Directors, CAO helps resolve issues raised about the environmental and social impacts of projects through a neutral, collaborative, problem-solving approach via its Dispute Resolution function. It also reviews IFC’s and MIGA’s compliance with environmental and social policies, assesses related harm, and recommends remedial actions through its Compliance function. Additionally, CAO provides advice to IFC, MIGA, and their Boards to enhance environmental and social sustainability performance and minimize the risk of harm.

Complaints may relate to environmental and social harm regarding any aspect of the planning, implementation, or impact of a project or sub-project, and can be made by any individual, group, community, entity, or other party affected or likely to be affected by the environmental or social impacts of an IFC- or MIGA-financed business activity.

Complaints can be submitted by any of the following methods:

Online form: available at https://www.cao-ombudsman.org/
Mail/Hand Delivery to: 2121 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA
Voice mail: +1 202 458 1973
Email: cao@worldbankgroup.org
SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal: +1 202 650 2627

CAO receives and addresses complaints in accordance with the CAO Policy, which can be accessed at: https://www.cao-ombudsman.org/policies-guidelines.

This Environmental and Social Review Summary (ESRS) is prepared by IFC to disclose its findings and recommendations related to environmental and social considerations regarding potential investments. Its purpose is to enhance the transparency of IFC's activities. For any project documentation or data included or attached herein, whether prepared by the project sponsor or otherwise, authorization has been given for public release by the project sponsor. IFC considers that this ESRS is of adequate quality for release to the public, but has not necessarily independently verified all of the project information therein.
It is distributed in advance of IFC Board of Directors' consideration and may be periodically updated thereafter. Board dates are estimates only and this document should not be construed as presuming the outcome of the Board Directors’ decision. The following ESRS is disclosed in accordance with IFC's Access to Information Policy (AIP).

The map is for illustrative purposes and does not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the World Bank, concerning the legal status of any country or territory or concerning the delimitation of frontiers or boundaries. Country borders or names do not necessarily reflect the World Bank Group's official position. In some cases, available project location information is limited to the country of the project's activities. Locations are approximate.

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