Aecom News

No two oil spill response operations are the same. Each can present new and even tougher challenges for spill responders as they detect, contain and recover spilled oil. Diverse aspects affecting oil spill response operations can be the physical environment, spill monitoring, use of chemical dispersants, and the availability of proper technology for the situation.Some challenges have been met through research and technology development of techniques for dealing with spills. However…

The oilfield trucking provider Mullen Group has announced the closing of the acquisition of  hydro excavation company Canadian Hydrovac (CHL). CHL is a private company owned by Dan Shemanchuk which is based in Sherwood Park, Alberta. CHL is an industry leader in providing hydrovac services to the midstream, pipeline, construction and municipal sectors of western Canada. In addition to operating from its head office in the refinery complex of the greater Edmonton region and Alberta's Industrial Heartland, CHL has additional operating branches in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia and Saskatchewan. The Company's workforce consists of approximately 80 skilled employees and its fleet consists of over 50 specialized pieces of equipment including: hydrovac units…

The explosive growth of international boxships is challenging not only the physical infrastructure of North American ports, but also the very nature of the existing supply chains that they impact. The recent dialogue on container shipping has been all about so-called “mega-ships;” those vessels that with larger capacity than those that are already in service at any point in time. In the container trades, as in tanker and drybulk arenas, ocean-going vessels are one link, albeit an important component, within broader supply chains.

Global Diving & Salvage, Inc. has surpassed the 10,000 dives on a single project at Olmsted Locks & Dam in Illinois. Tom Cameron, a long-time diver with Global, performed the 10,000th dive. Wade Miller, Marine Construction Manager with AECOM for the Olmsted Dam Project, said, “The Global team has done an exceptional job. Global has been working at Olmsted since 2009 providing a variety of dive-related services. Olmsted is a significant, ongoing undertaking. The new locks and dam system will replace two outdated locks and dam systems on the Ohio River…

A new study report projects cargo volume through Port Manatee will more than double over the next 10 years. The 2016 Port Manatee Master Plan Update, accepted June 16 by the Manatee County Port Authority, provides a strategic vision and framework for continued diverse growth of the port of Southwest Florida for the coming decade and beyond. “We are encouraged by the positive opportunities presented in the master plan update,” said Betsy Benac, chairwoman of the Manatee County Port Authority.

The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans joined a host of elected officials and industry partners today to dedicate the Port’s new $25 million Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal. The terminal, made possible by a $16.7 million federal transportation TIGER grant, has a capacity of moving 160,000 twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) per year by rail. “This new terminal provides a highly efficient option for our customers moving cargo via rail,” said Gary LaGrange, Port President and CEO. The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant provided about 68 percent of the total funding for the terminal.

Four structures at the Port of Long Beach’s newest marine terminal recently earned the coveted “gold” status in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, which encourages the use of Earth-friendly features that save energy, conserve water and use recycled materials. Located at Long Beach Container Terminal’s new Pier E facility at Middle Harbor, the four buildings function as administrative offices and meeting space, an information technology center, and maintenance and operations structures. They range in size from 10,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet and were completed last year in preparation for this spring’s opening of the new terminal. The LEED awards are for the first phase of the new terminal.

Port of Townsville Limited (POTL) has welcomed the announcement this morning by Treasurer Curtis Pitt and Minister for Ports and Energy and Water Supply Mark Bailey of the appointment of two new locally-based Directors to its Board. Mr Shane Hanran and Ms Megan Heywood assume their positions on the Board effective today. POTL Chair Renita Garard said that today’s announcement was a real boost to the port’s Board and that the skills and experience of the two appointees would service the business well as it embarks upon long term expansion plans. “Mr Hanran and Ms Heywood bring a vast amount of experience to the table in both the engineering and legal disciplines, which are both very relevant and critical skills to run an efficient port business,” she said.

Wood Group has appointed three senior engineering specialists who will lead a new team of up to 20 people in the UK to further build Wood Group’s capability in vibration, dynamics and noise. This follows the acquisition of BETA Machinery Analysis, a Calgary-based engineering consultancy specializing in advanced vibration analysis, and will include the opening of a Southampton office in January 2016. Mark Hutchinson will become operations manager of Wood Group’s UK vibration team, Jonathon Baker joins as sales and business development manager and Rob Swindell will take on the role of R&D and technical authority. These appointments bolster Wood Group’s integrity management capability by adding subsea vibration and fatigue experience to its onshore expertise.

Fugro, as a member of the Compass PTS joint venture, has been awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract for flood risk data services. The contract was awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Compass PTS joint venture, led by AECOM Technology Corporation and CDM Smith, unites partners Fugro, T&M Associates, Halff Associates, and ABSG Consulting. It will provide architectural and engineering support services to continue FEMA’s goals to reduce risk to life and property by increasing public awareness. As the geospatial content and knowledge provider of the joint venture, Fugro will deliver integrated LiDAR-derived solutions and traditional and oblique imagery solutions as well as visualization software.

The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans awarded a $13.3 million construction contract to Metairie, La.-based Hard Rock Construction LLC today for the Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal improvement project at its monthly meeting. Hard Rock Construction was the lowest of eight bidders. The 12-acre project will result in a modern and efficient intermodal container transfer terminal to facilitate the movement of marine and rail cargo, while enhancing safety and reducing the carbon footprint of the regional and national transportation system.

Port Everglades is planning for the year 2033 with an updated roadmap for future growth over the next 20 years that identifies $1.6 billion in capital investments to improve productivity for cargo, cruise and petroleum businesses that operate at the South Florida seaport. The Broward County Board of County Commissioners, which governs the Port as a self-funded enterprise fund, approved the Port Everglades 2014 Master/Vision Plan today during its regularly scheduled meeting. Over the past year, Port staff and maritime consultant AECOM Technical Services, Inc. held more than 20 meetings with customers, stakeholders and the general public to develop the Plan. “This is the second update to the original Master/Vision Plan that was adopted in 2006.

Sponsored by the American Association of Port Authorities and hosted by the Unified Port of San Diego, a workshop examining port-related economic development programs, analyzing solutions to development/funding challenges and quantifying results will be held Feb. 20-21, 2014 (Day 1, 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.; Day 2, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 noon) at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, 1 Park Boulevard, San Diego, Calif. Among the key topics on the minds of Western Hemisphere port development…

The American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) 2013 Maritime Economic Development Workshop in Chicago, June 27-28, will explore the factors driving today’s investments in seaport and related infrastructure. The program's speakers will analyze the risks and rewards for undertaking such investments, reveal how capital improvements propel business development decisions and discuss what influences intermodal connection improvements with ports. Addressing the issue of what is…

The American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) 2013 Cruise Seminar in San Francisco, April 24-26, will kick off with a candid look inside the cruise industry from the perspective of four key cruise line executives and end with a tour of the Port of San Francisco to see the impact of the America’s Cup on port operations. In between these bookend sessions, seminar participants will be treated to a host of presentations ranging from new international regulations on ship air emissions to itinerary planning, cruise facility design, financing and joint-use terminal opportunities.

AECOM awarded US$15.6-million first year of renewable contract for Ghana’s Western Corridor Gas Infrastructure Development Project. The contract from the Ghana National Gas Company is renewable annually. The project primarily consists of a 27-mile shallow-water section of the offshore pipeline from Ghana’s Jubilee Field to Atuabo; a gas-processing plant at Atuabo; a 68-mile onshore pipeline from Atuabo to Aboadze; a 46-mile onshore lateral pipeline from Essiama to Prestea; a natural gas liquids export system in Domunli; and other infrastructure such as storage facilities and an office complex. AECOM will provide full program management services…

Transnet awards AECOM a US$3.4-million contract to initiate the design of the Durban Dig Out Port in South Africa. The project is a brownfield redevelopment for a new seaport complex to be built by excavating nearshore vacated land that will serve as a gateway for containers destined for the Greater Durban Area and the Gauteng Industrial Complex. It will also accommodate the region’s liquid bulk and motor vehicle handling. As part of the contract, AECOM will provide concept and pre-feasibility design services for the new port and container terminals, including all associated infrastructure relating to its operation. A critical aspect of the design will be ensuring the sustainability of the port throughout the construction phase as well as all of the operational phases of its development.

RALEIGH —The North Carolina Department of Transportation today announced the launch of the North Carolina Maritime Strategy planning study. The Governor’s Logistics Task Force recommended a study be initiated to evaluate the current and future role ports play, if any, in sustaining North Carolina’s efforts to create jobs and strengthen the economy across the State. “The study provides us the opportunity to take an objective look at the future of the maritime industry in North Carolina and assess these options with a fresh set of eyes,” said Lt.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) released its Request for Proposal (RFP) Friday on the "design-build" contract for the new locks under the Canal's Expansion Program. Four global consortia will now move forward with their bids on what will be the largest and most important project under the $5.25b expansion. The Expansion Program will build a new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the construction of a new set of locks, doubling capacity and allowing more traffic and longer, wider ships. The ACP will meet with consortia representatives in February 2008 regarding the content of the RFP for the construction of the new set of locks. Proposals are due August 2008.

AECOM Technology Corporation (ACM:aecom technology corp delawa com ACM 18.35, +0.75, +4.3%), provider of professional technical and management support services for government and commercial clients around the world, announced that its environment business line has been awarded a $12.5m, multi-year, nationwide contract renewal by the United States Coast Guard for environmental and engineering services at USCG onshore and offshore navigation facilities. Under the five-year contract, AECOM Environment is providing USCG with environmental compliance and auditing, remedial engineering and management, and storm water management planning for their onshore and offshore facilities such as lighthouse structures, waterfront facilities, buildings, and grounds and other aids to navigation.

President George W. Bush intends to nominate Michael Jackson, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security. Mr. Jackson currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of AECOM Technology Corporation, Government Services Group, in Fairfax, Virginia. From 2001 to 2003, he served as Deputy Secretary of Transportation at the Department of Transportation. Earlier in his career, he held several positions at Lockheed Martin IMS, Transportation Systems and Services, including Vice President and General Manager of Business Development and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Jackson received his bachelor's degree from the University of Houston and his Ph.D. from Georgetown University.