Opened in 1990 and operated by Ports America Chesapeake since 2009, the Seagirt Marine Terminal stands as a working monument to the innovative and progressive spirit of the Port of Baltimore. Its mission is as simple as it is challenging: to keep cargo moving.

As part of a 50-year commitment in partnership with the Maryland Port Administration, Ports America has invested in modern technologies to develop a comprehensive database that tracks and manages all activity and assets belonging to the 284-acre container terminal, including a nearly two-mile-long waterfront perimeter.

As one of only four U.S. East Coast ports with a 50-foot-deep channel and berth, proper maintenance of the Terminal’s waterfront assets is critical to sustainable operations. To this end, Ports America Chesapeake selected GEI’s waterfront engineers to manage the waterfront component of their proprietary asset management database.

Tasks supporting this effort have focused on the comprehensive inspection of over 3,000 pre-stressed concrete pile foundations and various superstructure elements supporting over 4,000 linear feet of active container shipping berths. Services have been extended to updating the database inventory and assessing condition, while also forecasting future repair needs and costs. In addition, GEI is providing ongoing consultant services for planned facility improvements.

Project highlights:

• Comprehensive underwater inspection of over 3,000 pre-stressed concrete pile elements at depth greater than 40 fsw to determine deterioration and catalog undocumented repairs
• Flexible scheduling and coordination of inspection activities with site personnel to accommodate dynamic vessel schedules without interrupting on-site shipping activities
• Time-sensitive reporting and incorporation of all findings into site-specific database