Marine Infrastructure sample projects

Due to the impact and result of Hurricane Fiona in the Atlantic Canada Region in 2022, Marine Atlantic requested Maderra Engineering to perform an above and subsurface condition inspection of the Layup Dock, Gulfspan Dock, and Alternate Dock located at the North Sydney, NS and the Gulfspan Dock, Alternate Dock, and Coastal & Carson Docks at the Port aux Basques, NL. The above surface inspection included a visual inspection of all components visible above the waterline including (but not limited to) rubber fenders, bollards, wearing surfaces and crib walls. The subsurface inspection included a dive campaign which included a visual inspection of all components visible below the waterline including (but not limited to) caisson walls, caisson footers and debris/sediment that may impact vessel operations.

Maderra Engineering performs annual inspections of all the ramp and transfer bridges for Marine Atlantic docks at North Sydney, NS and Argentia and Port aux Basques, NL. The scope includes a visual inspection of all the structural components of the ramp and transfer bridges including (but not limited to) concrete walls, piers, abutments, bearings and bearing seats; steel girders, bracing, deck and connections; and all coatings, wearing surfaces, railings, drainage, and utilities. A final inspection report is produced including a condition assessment of each component with a material condition rating (MCR) and a performance condition rating (PCR). Recommended repairs are then given with a priority code for each defect with a Class D cost estimate for each.

Maderra Engineering was hired by Vale to design an engineered slipway and dock at their Long Harbour RSA. A fixed wharf/platform was required on the bank, that could tie into a floating dock that would rise and fall with the changing water levels. The floating portion was required to be large enough to park/anchor the facility boats. The dock was required to have ice impact protection or have the ability to be removed in the winter.

Maderra Engineering was hired to complete an assessment to explore options for retrofitting the existing facility at the Argentia terminal to install a bi-level transfer bridge to accommodate their current fleet. Maderra provided a high-level assessment of the existing facility infrastructure, multi-level transfer bridge options, upgrade recommendations, and a budget construction cost estimate for the multi-level transfer system. The project workscope included an existing infrastructure review, design basis review, metocean review, utilities review, environmental overview, and bi-level transfer bridge specifications.

The project included the permanent removal of two concrete mooring Dolphins located near the Layup Dock in North Sydney, NS. The scope included removal and disposal of the two concrete dolphins and restoration of the underwater areas of the structures. Maderra Engineering completed Project Management, Design Development, Tender Administration, Construction Contract Administration, and Site Construction Supervision.

Maderra Engineering was engaged by Vale to carry out a Scoping Exercise to carry out updated visual inspections of the wharf (SOG and caissons), and to re-baseline the wharf condition assessment. The workscope included: site walk-through and visual inspections; assessment of probable causes of the wharf slab settlement issues; identification of interim solutions; identification of additional required testing and analysis; and identification of potential long-term solutions.

With the supply of two new ferries to operate between Fortune, NL and Saint-Pierre et Miquelon (SPMA), various modifications to the Port of Fortune ferry terminal were required. SPMA contracted Maderra Engineering to provide Project Management, Detailed Design, and Tender Administration for a new vehicle loading and unloading ramp system. Maderra hired a specialty Marine Consultant to complete a portion of the work.

Maderra provided project management and multi-disciplinary FEED and detailed engineering for the renovations to the Bull Arm Topsides Construction Yard module loading and transport areas including the pier and quay, for the Hebron project.  The work was completed in conjunction with four partner engineering firms, involves the assessment and remediation of all marine infrastructure including, fenders, bollards, quay wall, and finger pier caisson wall. Maritime International was engaged as fender supplier for this project.  The final marine configuration was able to support all the heavy lift vessels delivering the individual modules in addition to the fully integrated topsides facility which was transported to the deep water site for mating with the GBS.

Davie shipbuilding was awarded a contract to build North America’s first dual-fuel LNG ferries, which are operated on the St. Lawrence River on the Tadoussac-Baie-Sainte-Catherine route. Maderra Engineering was contracted to provide engineering and design services to Davie, with a scope of work that included more than 500 deliverables for the ship electrical systems including layout drawings, cable schedules, cable routing, cable transit details, and cable termination details.

​Maderra provided a condition assessment of the transfer bridge beams on the Argentia approach ramp. We performed a visual examination on site and delivered a recommendations report for subsequent action and investigation. The report advised on potential design issues, inspection requirements and repair options.

Maderra Engineering provided engineering services for the wharf infrastructure Electrical systems in Valleyfield, NL. The newly constructed wharf required a new electrical service, complete with new pedestals and associated metering. DFO provided a new building to house the main service. In addition, an adjacent older wharf required metering for its existing pedestals.

Maderra completed an assessment of the four main docks located at North Sydney and Port aux Basques to evaluate fender system replacement options and associated wharf remediation works. The workscope included:  non-destructive visual assessment of fenders and associated structures; evaluation of the dock’s structural components and existing fendering system; crack analysis; engagement of a specialist third-party to deploy an array of measurement equipment to assess the actual behavior of the wharf structure and fender system during ferry docking operations; evaluation of the measurement data with consultative input from fender design specialist; preparation of report including recommendations for replacement of the fendering systems and wharf remediation and upgrade works.

The Port-aux-Basque fabrication module hall was used for the fabrication of the 360 metric tonne, 65 meter long Hebron Flare Boom.  In preparation for the load-out from the module hall, Maderra completed a structural analysis of the quayside and wharf, to ensure that it would safely handle the weight of the module.  

The work included review of geotechnical report covering seafloor under the crib, timber member capacity checks, internal lateral pressure calculations (inside the timber crib), timber crib lateral stability analysis, stability analysis and design of 50 tonne shore and wharf bollards, wharf reinforced concrete slab design, analysis of the connection between the wharf slab and crib, and connection capacity checks.