Welcome to The Marine Contractor
The Marine Contractor provides Coastal Engineering Professional Services for both coastal structures and waterfront infrastructure projects located in the marine environment. Coastal engineering addresses engineering concerns posed by constructing at or near the coast including projects such as design, construction and assessment of:
Marinas
Boat ramps
Docks / piers
Seawalls, revetments, and bulkheads
Beaches – erosion control and shore protection, as well as restoration
Breakwaters, groins, jetties
Bluffs, dunes and ravines – including retaining walls
Permitting
Sand source and borrow area investigations
The Marine Contractor utilizes a team comprised of engineers, landscape architects, surveyors, contractors, and environmental permit specialists who provide expertise in all the areas that impact the marine environment.
Storm surge, winds, waves, and tides all affect marine structures and contribute to rapidly eroding beaches, an issue at the forefront of many property owners today as it affects their beach fronts, boathouses, ramps, and seawalls. Information on water depths is important for planning projects including dredging, harbor improvements, docks, pers and beaches. Our team utilizes single beam sonar technology and GPS systems to collect hydrographic survey data (soundings). Some of the other equipment and analyses utilized by our team includes:
Various underwater cameras for still images and video
Kongsberg sonar imaging systems
Side scan sonar imaging systems
CP Bathycorrometers
Cygnus underwater thickness gauges
Inclinometers
Piezometers
GPR (ground penetrating radar)
Slope stability analysis
Geotechnical investigations using both truck mount, rig mount and barge supported drill rigs
Our underwater diving and overall inspection services are supervised by a licensed Professional Engineer with experience in the marine environment. The Marine Contractor has managed and performed inspections of thousands of feet of seawalls including properties in Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin. The Marine Contractor is currently working on more than 20 projects along the shore of Lake Michigan involving various types of failures and repairs including revetments, seawalls, bluff failures, and related issues associated with the shoreline.
Where underwater diving for inspection and repair is required, The Marine Contractor utilizes a dive team consisting of a three-person team of Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) certified professional divers and highly qualified management and support personnel with experience in underwater repair, construction, installations and inspections. The divers are certified by ADCI for surface-supplied air diving and are a frequent diving resource for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and numerous private docks and terminals in the area.
Prior to diving, The Marine Contractor develops a comprehensive dive plan and procedure on to address operational safety. The dive team members have current dive physicals and are also certified as Emergency Oxygen Providers and are trained in both CPR and First Aid.
In addition to the underwater visual inspection, The Marine Contractor utilizes Cygnus underwater thickness meters to measure the wall thickness of sheet pile and other metal structures.
Steel sheet piling corrosion issues have been observed at several Great Lakes harbors and marinas. In several instances, the sheet piling is corroding at a highly accelerated rate. This rate of corrosion is similar to that commonly observed in saltwater ports but not seen in freshwater environments. Accordingly, while performing the underwater visual inspection our divers often utility a Polatrak CP Corrosion Measurement Gun to gather additional data on the wall for evaluation during the reporting phase of this project.
“In my experience, The Marine Contractor, always displays a high level of professional expertise, great attention to details and, above all, a willingness to ‘go an extra mile’ for us.”
Coastal Engineering
Due diligence is an important part of any real estate transaction. Protect your investment with our comprehensive zoning assessment reports and know your rights when it comes to building on your property.
If your property is located on or near water, you will need to know the condition of your seawall. Our innovative seawall inspection process will provide you with the most detailed seawall inspection report in the industry.