Delivery Approach for Coastal Infrastructure Facilities: Case of the Transshipment Seaport of Sidon

This paper reports on the new seaport of ancient Sidon (the larest city in Southern Lebanon), whose implementation program is currently underway. Extensive debate has taken place, and a comprehensive investigation has been undertaken by the port authority to decide on the delivery approach that best suits the conditions of this project. The study touched on the various stages of planning and development and the scenarios for construction financing and port operation. A framework—leading to the selection of an innovative modified finance-design-build process—is presented that can be useful to owners of future infrastructure facilities when deciding on the suitable project delivery approach. The stages through which the project organization has evolved before reaching its final form are also discussed. Finally, the paper examines the financial implications the selected approach may have on concerned project participants.