Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

American Society Of Civil Engineers News

24 Oct 2022

WSP USA Hires Harris as Navy Program Director

Chuck Harris (Photo: WSP USA)

WSP USA, an engineering, environment and professional services consultancy, has hired Charles "Chuck" Harris as Navy program director for the firm’s Federal Programs national business line.In his new role, Harris directs the growth of the Federal team’s Navy program, which includes a recent joint venture win to directly support the $500 million U.S. Navy’s Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) for improvements to dry docks at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate…

24 Aug 2022

Kongsberg Maritime Launches ScanFuse Powered by Qii.AI

(Image: Kongsberg Maritime)

Kongsberg Maritime’s Sensors and Robotics Division has released ScanFuseTMpowered by Qii.AI, a web-based software application that enables Civil Engineers to create comprehensive mosaics of maritime assets above and below the waterline by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning.Civil Engineers use sonar images to assess the structural integrity of waterfront facilities and structures such as port wharfs and berths, bridge piers and dams. These images assist engineers to determine whether hydraulic scour threatens the structure…

27 Jul 2022

Great Lakes Announces New Leadership Appointments

Left to right: David Johanson and Christopher G. Gunsten (Photo: Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation)

Houston-based dredging contractor Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation said it has appointed David Johanson to the position of SVP, Project Acquisition & Operations, and of Christopher G. Gunsten, P.E. to the position of SVP, Project Services & Fleet Engineering.Johanson and Gunsten will assume their new roles effective August 1, 2022. Their positions will fill the roles currently held by the Company’s Chief Operating Officer, David E. Simonelli, who is retiring on September 16, 2022.

01 Mar 2022

Port of LA Names New Chief Harbor Engineer

Dina Aryan-Zahlan (Photo: Port of Los Angeles)

The Port of Los Angeles announced it has appointed Dina Aryan-Zahlan to Chief Harbor Engineer, lead of the Port’s Engineering Division. Aryan-Zahlan replaces David Walsh who retired in December 2021.Aryan-Zahlan most recently served as the Port’s Assistant Chief Harbor Engineer since 2015, where she oversaw the planning, development and design of infrastructure and facilities that support the diverse operations of the nation’s busiest seaport, including wharves, terminals, rail…

08 Nov 2021

Inland Waterways: A Crucible of Issues

© Bill Perry / Adobe Stock

As 2022 appears on the not-so-distant horizon, we asked inland waterways executives to reflect on the major issues impacting their industry. Just how those issues evolve – and whether they present as challenges or opportunities – is, of course, unknown. Answers to some future questions will be relatively straightforward, confidently based on industry knowledge and experience. Other outcomes remain hazier, and next steps could be influenced by forces and players completely removed from the business of barges…

12 Mar 2021

Maritime Groups Pleased with WRDA 2020

© Michael / Adobe Stock

It was an odd legislative journey, but ultimately one with a happy ending. That’s one way to sum up the rather tortuous process that led to the passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA). For the first time WRDA (usually reauthorized every two years) was not enacted as its own legislative bill. This time it was rolled into the massive government 2021 omnibus budget bill, the ‘‘Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021,’’ signed into law on December 27.Still, the WRDA text itself…

25 Jan 2021

COVID-19’s Impacts on American Maritime Infrastructure

© Gary Gray / Adobe Stock

It goes without saying that America’s vast network of ports and inland waterways are crucial to the flow of maritime commerce, but these vital parts of U.S. infrastructure also play a big role in driving the greater national economy, support quality of life and ensure public health and safety. Still, no matter how clear and obvious the benefits, U.S. infrastructure as a whole (including roads, energy grids and, yes, ports and waterways among others) has fallen victim to underinvestment. It’s been this way for decades. In 2019, the U.S.

02 Nov 2020

IMO SG Emeritus William O’Neil Passes Away

William O’Neil was Secretary-General of IMO from 1990 to 2003. (Photo: IMO)

William A. O’Neil, Secretary-General Emeritus of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has died in the United Kingdom, aged 93.O’Neil was elected Secretary-General of the IMO for a first term of Office beginning in 1990, a second term beginning in 1994, a third term beginning in 1998 and a further two-year term from 2002 to 31 December 2003. He was the second longest serving Secretary-General of IMO.Current IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim expressed his sincere condolences to the Canadian Government…

01 Nov 2019

Polymer Pioneer Receives Engineering's Highest Accolade

George A. (Sandy) Thomson (Photo: Thordon Bearings)

On October 31st, 2019, George A. (Sandy) Thomson, the founder of Thordon Bearings and a pioneer in the development of advanced polymer materials, was presented with the 2019 Elmer A. Sperry Award in recognition of “leading the innovation in water-lubricated propeller shaft bearings” in marine transportation through the use of polymeric compounds.The award was presented to Mr. Thomson at the SNAME Maritime Convention, in Tacoma, USA, by the Chairman of the Board of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), Mr.

05 Sep 2019

Polymer Pioneer Wins Sperry Award

Thomson onboard the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Hudson with SeaThigor mechanical face seal installed.

 (Photo: Thordon Bearings)

Thordon Bearings’ founder and polymer materials pioneer George A. (Sandy) Thomson has been awarded the global transportation sector’s most distinguished accolade, the Elmer A. Sperry Award 2019 for “Advancing the Art of Transportation”.Thomson joins a long list of Sperry Award recipients, which was established in 1955, including Donald Douglas, Ferdinand Porsche, Sir Geoffrey De Havilland, Christopher Cockerell, Leonard Hobbs, Perry Pratt, Josef Becker and Malcom McLean.“I am deeply honored and humbled to win this award…

07 Sep 2017

American Society of Civil Engineers: Not Just a Tough Grader

(Credit: Captain Jim Fletcher & tidewater Transportation & Terminals)

Within the U.S. inland waterways industry, any mention of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) will almost certainly be in reference to the “Infrastructure Report Card” that ASCE prepares and issues every four years, describing the condition and performance of America’s infrastructure in 16 categories: aviation, bridges, dams, drinking water, energy, hazardous waste, inland waterways, levees, ports, public parks, rail, roads, schools, solid waste, transit and waste water.

26 Apr 2017

Op/Ed: Trump's Infrastructure Plan Should Include Inland Waterways

Photo: Little Rock Port Authority

Bryan Day, executive director of the Little Rock Port Authority, weighs in on President Donald Trump’s proposed infrastructure plan, calling for U.S. policymakers to consider inland waterways and ports in America’s infrastructure plan. President Donald Trump and members of Congress continue to discuss plans for a major infrastructure spending plan for our country. With calls from leaders from across the country, members of the federal government are coming together to embrace the importance of maintaining America’s infrastructure.

01 Aug 2016

Op/Ed: Fix the HMTF Now … or in 2027

Shane Skelton

The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) has been misused and underutilized for years, leaving U.S. ports and harbors in subpar conditions and disadvantaging the very shippers that pay to modernize and maintain them – to the tune of nearly $2 billion per year. In May, the U.S. House of Representatives’ (House) Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Committee) took a major step in the right direction by passing the Water Resources Development Act of 2016, which among other things…

06 Apr 2016

US Ports Planning Big Investments -Survey

Photo: Port of Houston Authority

Survey shows U.S. In its just-released 2016-2020 Port Planned Infrastructure Investment Survey, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) asked its U.S. member ports how much they and their private-sector partners plan to spend on port-related freight and passenger infrastructure over the next five years. The answer was a whopping $154.8 billion. AAPA then contrasted that number with what it believes is the “best-case” scenario for investments by the federal government into U.S. ports, including their land- and water-side connections, through 2020.

06 Feb 2015

Parson Brinckerhoff names new Dir. of Ports & Marine Western Div.

     Robert Johansen (Photo courtesy of Parson Brinckerhoff)

Robert Johansen has been named Director of the Ports & Marine Western Division at Parsons Brinckerhoff, a global engineering and design firm. Johansen will be responsible for business development and the management of design and construction projects for port and marine facilities in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam. He will be based in Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Oakland office. Johansen, who has over 50 years of port and marine terminal experience, has held similar positions with other international engineering companies as well as American President Lines…

19 Nov 2014

Mazurek is '2015 Coast Guard Engineer of the Year'

Dr. David Mazurek, a civil engineering professor at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, has been named the winner of the 2015 U.S. Coast Guard Engineer of the Year Award. Mazurek was selected from a strong and diverse pool of exceptional nominees based on his educational, professional, and personal achievements. An expert in structural analysis and design who has served as an Academy civil engineering professor for more than 24 years, he has taught mechanics and structural engineering to an entire generation of U.S. Coast Guard Civil Engineers. In addition to serving on the Academy faculty, Mazurek authored two of the bestselling engineering textbooks in the world.

08 Sep 2014

Maritime Engineering Prof. Elected President of ASCE Organizations

Stevens Institute of Technology congratulates Thomas H. Wakeman III, research professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Ocean Engineering who will hold the position of 2015 President-Elect for two prestigious American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) organizations: the Coast, Oceans, Ports and Rivers Institute (COPRI) and the Academy of Coastal, Ocean, Port and Navigation Engineers (ACOPNE), which awards engineering certification in these specialty areas of civil engineering. In 2016, he will be the President of the two organizations and represent COPRI and ACOPNE at national and international events. A Life Member of ASCE, Dr. Wakeman has extensive experience in navigation engineering, port development, maritime security, and freight transportation planning.

21 May 2014

AAPA Hails U.S. House Passage of WRRDA

Citing it as a major victory for ports, the American Association of Port Authorities is hailing passage in the U.S. House today of H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA). The U.S. Senate will vote on the bill this Thursday, where easy passage is expected. House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), a major WRRDA champion, cited the bill for cutting red tape, strengthening trade and creating jobs. AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle said, “We’re extremely pleased that WRRDA passed the House today. Mr. Another aspect of the bill provides more equity for HMT donor ports. The bill allows for expanded uses when spending increases and authorizes a separate program for HMT donor and energy ports.

19 Mar 2014

Schechtman Promoted at Parsons Brinckerhoff

Jeffrey Schechtman

Jeffrey Schechtman has been named Deputy Regional Business Manager for the Southeast region of Parsons Brinckerhoff, a global infrastructure strategic consulting, engineering and program/construction management organization. In his new position, Schechtman will work with managers in the nine states that comprise Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Southeast region to enhance relationships with key clients, expand business development opportunities, and invigorate marketing and pursuit efforts. He will work in the firm’s Atlanta office.

04 Feb 2014

Wachel Joins Parsons Brinckerhoff

William Wachel

William Wachel has been named a Senior Supervising Engineer, Ports and Marine, in the Houston office of Parsons Brinckerhoff, a global infrastructure strategic consulting, engineering, and program/construction management organization. In his new position, Wachel will manage ports and marine projects throughout Texas and the Southeastern United States. Wachel comes to Parsons Brinckerhoff following 25 years with the Port of Houston Authority. He most recently served as Managing Director in the agency’s engineering department…

15 Nov 2013

AAPA Supports Newly-Introduced BRIDGE Act

Kurt Nagle, AAPA President and CEO

Following introduction yesterday of the Building and Renewing Infrastructure for Development and Growth in Employment (BRIDGE) Act by Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) President and CEO Kurt Nagle commended the senators’ commitment to improving America’s infrastructure, saying initiatives like the BRIDGE Act are vital to strengthening America’s economy and international competitiveness. “This legislation is a positive step toward increasing investment in our nation’s critical infrastructure…

17 Oct 2013

Ret. Army General Named NanoCoatings Advisor

Merdith “Bo” Temple

Merdith “Bo” Temple, a retired U.S. Army General and leading authority on public sector engineering and related construction programs, has been named Senior Board Advisor to Tesla NanoCoatings, a leading producer of high-tech, anticorrosive coatings for the military and oil and gas industry. Temple joins Tesla NanoCoatings with more than 20 years of senior executive experience managing complex, multibillion-dollar infrastructure projects. For nearly a decade, he held numerous senior-ranking positions within the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

03 Oct 2013

Bryan Jones Joins HDR Ports & Maritime Team in Boston

Bryan Jones

Bryan N. Jones has joined HDR in Boston as a senior project manager for the Ports & Maritime group, a growing team of HDR marine specialists in the Northeast to support an increasing number of assignments following Super Storm Sandy. He will also focus on business development with key ports clients and marine terminals to continue expanding HDR’s presence in New England. Prior to joining HDR, Jones was chief project manager and regional director of the Massachusetts branch office of Ocean and Coastal Consultants.