Page 24: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 2022)

OFFSHORE WIND PORT DEVELOPMENT under-used or functionally obsolete existing port facilities. allow loading and off-loading without requiring heavy surface

Because of the anticipated high demand and short time capacity adjacent to existing waterfront structures. Every exist- frame, numerous existing waterfront facilities are under con- ing marine facility has a combination of structural, geotechnical sideration, in design or currently under construction (Port of and coastal issues that need to be holistically assessed.

Providence, South Quay-East Providence and Quonset Point, Upland areas also have concerns with storage capacity, to-

R.I.; New London and Bridgeport, Conn.; Salem and Brayton pography, elevation and most importantly subsurface condi-

Point, Mass.; and Paulsboro, N.J.). Reuse and repurposing of tions. Limited storage space may be able to be increased by existing properties can present challenges. procuring additional adjacent parcels. Adjusting surface eleva-

As stated above, the OSW industry has certain requirements tion and topography is easy to accomplish if the subsurface soil that many aging ports currently do not meet. Limited dredge conditions are adequate. Poor subsurface soil conditions can depth, deteriorated bulkheads and quay walls and limited surface often be improved, at reasonable costs, using standard earth- load capacities of pier and wharf structures and adjacent upland work or the right ground improvement techniques. Designing areas need to be addressed. Because the large-scale development for actual component and vehicle ground load pressures rather needs of the OSW industry is for a limited time frame (10 to 20 than unrealistically high “developer requested” uniform ground years) within a particular local, short to medium term ? xes may pressures can result in substantial cost savings to a project. be in order. A new relieving platform may be able to span over an Every existing port facility has its own set of positive and old bulkhead, seawall or rip-rap slope to reach deeper water. Rel- negative conditions. As the song goes: “You got to accentuate atively inexpensive isolated mooring dolphins might accomplish the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the af? rmative, the same goal. An isolated pile supported crane platform may and don’t (ever, ever, ever) mess with Mr. In-between.” ... & AFTER!

Images Courtesy of Connecticut Port Authority. Rendering Artist: Jennifer Gottlieb, AIA NCARB ENV SP at AECOM 24 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • April 2022

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