Long Beach’s New Berthing System Greets First Panamax Bulker
The unique berth at D44 in Long Beach, Calif., designed in partnership by Seabulk and Bellingham Marine, was developed in response to a need for an environmentally friendly, low cost berthing system designed specifically for the docking of Panamax-class, self-discharging bulk carriers.
The berthing system developed by the team for Eagle Rock Aggregates includes two stifflegs supported by match-cast, post-tensioned floating concrete platforms. The legs position the self-unloading bulk carrier and provide a load path to bearing walls at the top of the bank. The legs also support a walkway for vessel line handling and pilot access to the buoyancy float.
CSL Tecumseh arrived at the berth on the morning of July 19. Polaris Materials, President and CEO, Herb Wilson reported the ship’s pilot and crew were impressed by the strength of the stifflegs and how easy line handling was at the new berth. Polaris Materials is the parent company of Eagle Rock Aggregates.
“The stiffleg system utilized at D44 delivered ship berthing and mooring at a fraction of the cost of a conventional pile supported facility,” said Mark Mattila, Vice President of Ports and Marine for Seabulk. “For clients where project capital cost is important, this solution may be of interest. Different versions of the stiffleg system have been designed for bulk carriers and barges discharged by front end loaders.”
Additional features and benefits of the system include minimal overwater coverage, prefabrication of components for quick and easy marine installation, and the absence of marine pile driving reduces costs and is an ecological benefit, the developers said.
Mattila added, “Bellingham Marine’s concrete buoyancy floats mesh beautifully with the design and provide requisite buoyancy and deadweight for the system to work.”