General Construction News

2024 marks another year for development of a biennial WRDA bill—Water Resources Development Act, critical legislation for the Nation’s waterways, ports and harbors. WRDA encompasses a range of issues, from environmental regs to energy use to agriculture and, of course, a focus on projects critical for economic growth.Because these are dynamic and timely issues, Congress and the maritime sector like to keep WRDA on a two-year reauthorization timeline. Indeed, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, December and January, held three WRDA information hearings.

Patterson Manufacturing‘s new davit cranes are designed from the ground up for improved safety, ease of use, durability and reliability. What more could you ask?Patterson Manufacturing has supplied equipment into the marine market for more than 160 years, consistently expanding its lines of winches, rigging and fittings to meet evolving demands along the way, and even engineering custom products when the job requires. Now the Pittsburgh-based manufacturer is adding a new line of davit cranes to the mix.The new cranes…

Two 70t Modulift spreader beams were integral to the reinstallation of a bridge, lowered back into position by two mobile cranes lifting in tandem. Swiss crane rental company Senn AG used two Liebherrs, each rigged with below-the-hook equipment, to return the refurbished bridge across the Aare river in Bern, Switzerland’s capital. Oftringen, Switzerland-based Senn is a multifaceted business, which is also a specialist in the provision of steel construction and infrastructure projects.

A newly built articulated tug barge (ATB) unit tugboat, was launched for Kirby Offshore Marine on Wednesday, September 2. The new vessel, the 136’ x 44’ x 19’ Nancy Peterkin, is the first of two sister vessels built for Kirby by Ice Floe, LLC dba Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB). The Tina Pyne is also being built at NBBB and is scheduled for launch in December 2015. The builder said it made use of a new track and dolly system to move Nancy Peterkin from the shipyard to the launch ramp.

Protecting Workers, and Ensuring Safe Sailing for the Maritime Industry. The cable-laying vessel GS Global Sentinel was undergoing repair work. Shipyard workers and members of the ship’s crew found a mysteriously high hydrogen sulfide reading in a confined space on board that created a toxic environment. They could not understand why. What caused this potentially lethal scenario? After investigation and safe entry into the tank, crewmembers of the vessel and shipyard workers discovered…

3M introduces its new 3M™ Reinforced Polyurethane Foam, a lightweight and rot-resistant alternative to plywood for use in structural and semi-structural applications. These polyurethane foam boards with fiberglass reinforcement provide high strength in applications including marine, transportation and general construction, with a weight savings ranging from 30 to 60 percent versus plywood. “Plywood is currently used in many applications where water causes it to degrade over time,” said Nick Harris, global business leader for 3M Engineered Products and Solutions. Available in five densities ranging from 15 pounds to 26 pounds per cubic foot, Reinforced Polyurethane Foam complements 3M’s existing line of lighter density foam boards and rounds out the company’s offerings in the field.

By entering into these two new contracts, Edda Accommodation has secured the utilization of Edda Fides until the end of 2013. The contracts include general construction, transport and accommodation support for the construction of new offshore oil and gas installations. Including options, the new contracts are worth 150 million US dollars. As a result of the successful experience with Edda Fides, Edda Accommodation has now started the process of building two additional monohull accommodation vessels. The designers of these two vessels will be Salt Ship Design.

Two Heavy Lift Derrick Barges used to raise 485 ton reactor off Cherry Point, WA. A 485 ton, 140 foot long stainless steel reactor vessel rolled off a barge into approximately 60 feet of water off Cherry Point, WA. The reactor was filled with nitrogen to prevent corrosion during transportation, one end rested on the sea floor, with the other end, just breaking the surface. Immediately after the incident, Global Diving & Salvage, Inc. provided an inspection class ROV to inspect the reactor for damage and asses its orientation on bottom.

Seattle-based Global Diving and Salvage has hired Renee Gowdy as Lead Estimator. In this position, Gowdy will be responsible for developing estimates and proposal production within Global’s Marine Construction Division for Federal, State, Local and civil customers as well as other key markets. Gowdy joins the department with an extensive educational and professional background in the estimating and preconstruction development process. He brings to Global significant expertise in preparing submittals for projects in commercial, municipal and government markets and data base management.

The Jensen Maritime-designed river push boat, the M/V Stephenson II, has been delivered to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for use in Gascondale, MO, in the Corps' Kansas City district. Jensen performed the functional design and production lofting of the ABS Classed, 58-ft, 770-horsepower boat, which will provide operational support for the district's operations and maintenance mission on the lower Missouri River as well as for general construction and mitigation projects. Patti Marine Enterprises Inc.

Tri-State Design Construction Co. Inc., Elkins Park, Pa., and KC Construction Co., Ivyland, Pa., a joint venture, is being awarded a $2 million increment as part of a $6.5 million general construction contract for construction of a levee, floodwall and mechanically stabilized earth wall totaling 4,100 linear ft. with associated closure structure, drainage structures and erosion control. Work will include excavation and stabilization of 1,200 linear feet of an embankment in Dickson City, Pa. Work will be performed in Olyphant, Pa., and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2003. There were 22 bids solicited on July 6, 2001, and one bid was received. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Baltimore, Md., is the contracting activity.

Work will begin soon to remove the temporary slip at the Friday Harbor Ferry Terminal. The project was put out to bid on August 22, 2005 and the contract to remove the temporary slip and construct a tie-up slip was awarded to General Construction Company of Poulsbo. Work is tentatively scheduled to begin on November 28, 2005, and is expected to be complete by the end of February 2006. The slip was always meant to be temporary, as it was built with bare steel that will corrode rapidly in the marine environment. Permit conditions require that WSF remove the slip and that in-water work be completed by March 21, 2006.

President Clinton's FY 2000 budget proposes new user fees to offset programs administered by the USACE, the USCG and NOAA. The $3.9 billion budget request for the USACE provides a 21 percent increase over its FY 99 request, but is still below the $3.96 billion appropriated by Congress for USACE programs last year. Most of the increased spending is earmarked for deep-draft ports and channels and environmental programs, with inland waterways and flood protection projects funded at roughly the same level as in FY 99. As expected, accompanying the budget request is a proposal to repeal the Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT) and replace it with a Harbor Services User Fee (HSUF).

President Clinton's budget transmitted to Congress includes $4.06 billion for the USACE Civil Works program. In addition, the program will include $322 million in non-federal contributions and trust fund receipts. Funding in this request will be used to continue the development of the nation's water resources, the efficient operations, maintenance and management of the nation's navigation, flood damage reduction, and multiple-purpose projects, the equitable regulation of wetlands, and the restoration of important environmental resources such as the South Florida Ecosystem. The budget also begins to address some of the Corp's long-term water resources infrastructure main-tenance requirements.

President Clinton's budget transmitted to Congress includes $4.06 billion for the USACE Civil Works program. In addition the program will include $322 million in non-federal contributions and trust fund receipts. Funding in this request will be used to continue the development of the nation's water resources, the efficient operations, maintenance and management of the nation's navigation, flood damage reduction, and multiple-purpose projects, the equitable regulation of wetlands, and the restoration of important environmental resources such as the South Florida Ecosystem. The budget also begins to address some of the Corps long-term water resources infrastructure main-tenance requirements.

President Clinton's budget transmitted to Congress includes $4.06 billion for the USACE Civil Works program. In addition the program will include $322 million in non-federal contributions and trust fund receipts. Funding in this request will be used to continue the development of the nation's water resources, the efficient operations, maintenance and management of the nation's navigation, flood damage reduction, and multiple-purpose projects, the equitable regulation of wetlands, and the restoration of important environmental resources such as the South Florida Ecosystem. The budget also begins to address some of the Corps long-term water resources infrastructure main-tenance requirements.