Marine Terminal Facilities

Background

Foth provides waterfront inspections, hydrographic surveys, structural assessments, design of repairs and replacements, construction management, and permitting services for marine terminal facilities managed by Quonset Development Corporation (QDC).

Approach

Bulkhead Replacement: The 1,100 linear feet of deteriorated anchored wooden bulkhead is located adjacent to the south side of Pier No. 1, along the waters edge of the Marine Trades parcel and was constructed by the Navy in the mid-1940s. Foth performed hydrographic surveys, dredge design and permitting, marine structure inspection, bulkhead and revetment design and permitting, marina and waterfront service facilities, drainage accommodation, environmental assessment and permitting, marine structure project management and oversight.

Port of Davisville Dredging: Foth provided maintenance and improvement dredging of approximately 293,622 cubic yards of material that was placed at the Rhode Island Sound Disposal Site (RISDS) over the course of two dredge seasons. Our team provided turnkey surveying, sediment analysis, permit application/agency consultation, and coordination, along with engineering and project management. Foth conducted a pre-construction activity meeting along with field meetings with the Contractor to review operations, stationing, dump scows, progress reports, overall conditions and monitoring, and documentation of occurrences throughout construction. Foth also performed turbidity monitoring throughout the project and pre- and post-aquiculture monitoring of surrounding habitats.

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer Berthing Facility, Davisville Pier No. 1: Foth performed calculations, designs, permits, and plans for the berthing facilities for the NOAA ship “Okeanos Explorer”. The Davisville Pier No. 1, along the southern water’s edge of the Marine Trades parcel, was constructed by the Navy in the mid-1940s. The project included calculations for wave loads from storm events, berthing loads, final design of the fendering, and a number of unique utility requirements for the ship while it was in berth.

Electric Boat – West Quonset Channel Dredging and Blasting: This project consisted of maintenance and improvement dredging to a depth of minus sixteen feet (-16’) mean low water (MLW) plus one-foot of allowable overdredge. This was required in order to create a new shipping channel for the transport of U.S. Navy submarine modules by barge to the EB Groton Facility through the West Passage of the Narragansett Bay. Approximately 198,062 cy of material was anticipated to be dredged with placement at the Rhode Island Sound Disposal Site (RISDS).

During the first round of dredging, ledge was encountered within the dredge footprint. Foth performed an extensive geotechnical investigation of the site, which included probes, standard penetration tests, and rock cores.  Foth continued exploration investigations by deploying an Aquares Resistivity Sub-Bottom Profiler to provide high-resolution quantitative and qualitative data of full bottom coverage within the proposed channel. We worked with the contractor and permitting agencies to develop and implement a Blasting Plan prior to the next dredge season. Foth prepared amended permits and worked closely with the contractor to prepare blasting plans and review blasting submittals. Foth also performed construction oversight and project closeout services.

Results

Through the continued coastal, waterfront engineering and dredging services provided by Foth, the Quonset Development Cooperation has managed to maintain day-to-day operations as one of the top auto ports and frozen seafood ports along the East Coast of the United States. Foth also contributed to the expansion of national security through the continued growth of the U.S. Navy’s utilization of the Quonset Point Facility.