Bacalia Group operates Grand Caribbean Marinas, a network of six marinas on Puerto Rico’s east coast. Following Hurricanes Irma and María in 2017, the company identified that restoring physical infrastructure was only one part of recovery. Electricity, communications, transport, staff safety, suppliers and the return of local businesses were also essential to restoring the wider coastal economy.

Since then, Bacalia has coordinated reconstruction and upgrades across the network, including docks, boatyards, power, water and fuel systems, transient boating facilities, dry storage and repair capacity. It also introduced shared hurricane protocols with concessionaires, charter operators and fishing cooperatives covering preparation, emergency contacts and phased reopening.

The company worked with public authorities and local stakeholders on access, debris removal, permitting, tourism promotion and shared coastal protection. At Marina Puerto Chico, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant and Bacalia co-financing supported the development of a floating wave attenuator designed to protect vessels and infrastructure while expanding transient capacity.

When Hurricane Fiona caused an island-wide blackout in 2022, the marinas resumed operations within hours using backup power. The case illustrates how coordinated infrastructure investment, emergency planning and collaboration across public and private stakeholders can support recovery and strengthen the resilience of a wider coastal economy.