WAT68

Tacoma, Washington

Maersk Wharf Extension CLIENT Port of Tacoma Tacoma, Washington REFERENCE Trevor Thornsley Project Manager PROJECT FEATURES 600-foot-long marginal wharf Unitized fender system 100-foot-gauge crane rail Two 350-kip mooring dolphins 4,160-volt crane power Truck turnout at end SERVICES BY BergerABAM Site Investigation Wharf Extension Design Two High-Capacity Mooring Dolphins Construction Documents Construction Support CONSTRUCTION COST $9.1 million PROJECT DATES 1999 to 2002 KEY STAFF Arnie Rusten Joe Stockwell Frank Yang Rich Davis Scott Branlund

BergerABAM’s engineers designed a very economical wharf extension that was built with no impact to ongoing operations. The original Maersk/Sea-Land wharf was designed by BergerABAM in the mid-1980s. The terminal is one of the premier port facilities in the region, and by 1999, was responsible for transfer of approximately one-half of the containerized cargo at the Port of Tacoma. The wharf extension provides additional berth length in response to larger post-Panamax (1,050 feet long overall) vessels calling at the port. With this extension, the marine terminal facilities consist of 2,200 lineal feet of marginal wharf (two berths); six ship-to-shore, post-Panamax gantry cranes; a 125-acre container yard; plus administration and maintenance facilities. BergerABAM served as the project’s design engineers for the Port of Tacoma. A key requirement for design and construction was to limit impact on existing operations. A concrete pile-supported framing anchored at the shore by specially designed “ductile” steel pipe pile system was chosen to satisfy all the design criteria. The wharf was designed to support loads up to 40 kips per foot along the crane trackage, as well as to resist high seismic lateral loads. Haunched deck panels spanning pile caps placed at 25 feet apart topped by asphalt paving were used to provide a durable working surface and effective area drainage. The continuous power trench was extended to provide power supply to the cranes through a bus bar system. Water service and 100-ton bollards were provided along the wharf face at frequent intervals. Two 350-kip mooring dolphins designed to hold the ship were provided at the north end. BergerABAM’s extensive knowledge of marine structures and commitment to innovation guarantees clients cost-effective solutions for the modernization of existing port facilities.