DBIANE 2022 Gold Award for Highway and Infrastructure

Project Name: Commercial Fishing Port of Galilee, Rhode Island, Phases 1, 2A & 2B; Re-Engineered and Reconstructed for Safety, Operational and Infrastructure Upgrades, and Resiliency Designs Out to CY2050

Owner: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Owners Representative: ABM Group Construction Managers
Contractor: Narragansett Dock Works, Inc.
Lead Designer: Pare Corporation, Coastal & Waterfront Design Team

The project, divided into 3 phases, included the re-engineering and reconstruction of the Port of Galilee’s commercial fishing port’s bulkhead, mooring facilities, fishing vessel piers, onshore utilities, fire protection system, and shoreside power distribution systems while incorporating resiliency to sea level rise into the design. All construction had to be done while allowing the port, the largest commercial port in the state, to be operational year-round.

Phase 1 was bid out as a design/bid/build job; however, through the collaborative efforts of the Contractor (Narragansett Dock Works, LLC), Engineer (Pare Corporation), Owner (RI Department of Environmental Management), and Owner’s Representative (ABM Group LLC) during construction of Phase 1, it was determined by the Owner that future phasing within the port would be more beneficial to be posted as DB contracts. The selecting of partners, NDW and Pare, for future project phasing seemed natural because of the familiarity with both the site and personnel and an already proven work dynamic. The sentiment of the well-functioning team was also shared by the Owner and Owner’s Representative as Pare and NDW were awarded the contracts of Phase 2A and Phase 2B when the proposals for the respective jobs had been reviewed.

This phase of the project, referred to as Phase 2A and Phase 2B, was inclusive of the establishment of a new bulkhead along the southern and western alignment of the facilities that has been deemed by the Designer as structurally non serviceable due to the deteriorating condition of the bulkhead. The work would also include the raising of grades and affected utilities behind the portions of the bulkhead to be replaced as part of the larger resiliency design effort to CY 2050.

During the Phase 2A construction process, it was brought to the attention of the Owner, the inadequacy of the existing fire protection for the port facilities. In the nature of the design-build concept and ability to allow the project to grow with the builders, designers, and users, a new dry-line fire protection system was proposed and constructed, with the insight and blessing of the local fire department – an added feature to the port that will benefit the Owner, shareholders, and fire department should the system be needed. This addition was above and beyond what was originally considered during the request for proposal.

Narragansett Dock Works, Inc. and Pare Corporation teamed up to provide RI DEM with their first Design-Build projects, and ABM Group was contracted as Owner representatives. The entire team worked together, addressing, and overcoming extensive operational, seasonal variables, and scheduling requirements to keep the port running and the port operation generating income.

All Parties (Owner, Owner’s Representative, Contractor, Engineer, and shareholders) involved in Phase 1 of the Port of Galilee project were also involved in the later Phases 2a and 2B. This was a beneficial asset to the team as it allowed for periodic site visits and in-field discussions on future phasing (Phase 2A and 2B) during the periodic construction status meetings for Phase 1. To talk in a room looking at a piece of paper is one thing, but it does not replace the value of being onsite to put ideas and designs into perspective. Mr. Matthew Melchiori, EIT, of NDW also showed great initiative in relaying the schedule and design with the shareholders so all parties were on board and integrated within the design process. This allowed for the very early design conversations (prior to design milestones i.e. 30% 60% and 100% plan sets) to help facilitate the amount of revisions between the Contractor/Engineer and the Owner/Owner’s Rep/shareholders during the design process.

The coordination with the shareholders, port operations, and fishing fleet captains was also maintained throughout the construction process to minimize disruptions to port operations as construction tasks were implemented. This was critical to the operation, in all phases, as the erection of the bulkhead would disrupt the ability of the fishing fleet to be serviced/unload at certain piers because of the temporary disconnection of the pier and equipment at the first bent of the pier. Conversely the deconstruction of a pier would fully eliminate the use of the selected pier. Diligent effort on the part of the Contractor limited the down time of piers to approximately 1 month for bulkhead replacement work and 3 months for full deconstruction/reconstruction of the piers. The entire port pulled together and worked together moving and shifting berthing and critical path operations to ensure that port operations were not only maintained, but not interrupted or hindered during its year-round operations.