Waterfront Structures

Waterfront structures define the shoreline in ocean, lake and river environments. Efficient and economical development or restoration of waterfront structures requires extensive experience in geotechnical engineering and familiarity with structural systems used on the waterfront. MRCE brings exceptional expertise to waterfront structure inspection, design, rehabilitation and permitting.

  • Inspections
    Marine structure inspections are often challenged by restricted access, tidal conditions, and currents. MRCE engineers specializing in the design and rehabilitation of waterfront structures are adept at defining the structural system, evaluation of damage to structural components (marine borers, dry rot, spalling, and steel and concrete quality) to determine the remaining structural life or down-grade live load capacity.
  • Design

    Subsurface conditions are often very poor at the shoreline. Proper definition of subsurface conditions and design parameters is fundamental to successful design and performance of waterfront structures. Loads from earth and water, ice, wind, vessel impact and vessel mooring must be defined and managed in the design. MRCE engineers offer extensive experience in the design of:

    • Bulkhead and fender systems
    • Stress relieving platforms
    • Cellular cofferdams and gravity structures
    • Piers and wharfs, platform structures
    • Mooring and breasting structures
    • Marine outfalls
    • Revetments and erosion control structures
  • Rehabilitation
    Rehabilitation begins with a determination of structure conditions and load demands for use. Original structure designs were often able to support more load than the present use, making rehabilitation feasible. Increasing draft for modern-day ship use can challenge the capacity of existing structures, requiring structural augmentation. Rehabilitation and retrofit can include repairs in-kind, jacket and grouting to restore pile section, posting, and frame enhancement. Addition of supports such as batter piles, tieback or deadman anchors, and toe pins can improve structure performance, increase load capacity or add structural life. Addition of relieving platforms upland allows storage of high load bulk products or crane loading. MRCE engineers understand the design fundamentals of waterfront structures and forces they must support, enabling design of economic rehabilitation and upgrades for deeper draft or adaptation to new uses.

Hudson River Park Pier 26


Port of Albany - New Wharf at Sheds No. 4 and 5


Casino Pier - Post Sandy Damage Assessment & Rehab


Hudson River Park Morton Street Bulkhead Restoration


Box Street and Newtown Barge Parks


Greenville Yards

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