Our What’s Poppin’ with ESOP event brought teams together across all offices and even in the field to celebrate what it means to be employee-owners.

Team members enjoyed a build-your-own popcorn bar with a variety of toppings, explored ESOP facts displayed throughout each location, and connected with ESOP Committee members who were available to answer questions and share insights.

Most importantly, the event highlighted the power of ownership that unites us all, no matter where we work. It was a fun and meaningful way to celebrate the role each of us plays in our shared success.

There’s something powerful about getting your hands in the dirt and knowing it makes a difference.

On Saturday, April 18, a group from Marine Solutions, including Sean Chapman, PE, John Fangmeyer, EIT, Ashley Sanders, and Megan Kauffman, joined hundreds of volunteers at the 27th Annual Reforest the Bluegrass event. The initiative focuses on expanding tree canopy in local parks, strengthening ecosystems for wildlife, and improving air and water quality across the region.

What stood out most to our team was not just the act of planting trees, but seeing the results of past efforts. Nearby, taller trees from earlier Reforest the Bluegrass events served as a reminder that these efforts create lasting impact. It reinforced our belief that the work we do today contributes to a healthier environment for the future.

Participating in Reforest the Bluegrass reflects our commitment to supporting environmental initiatives that strengthen the communities where we live and work. Opportunities like this allow our team to contribute in a meaningful, hands-on way while supporting long-term environmental stewardship.
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We are proud of our team for contributing their time and effort to a cause that will continue to grow and benefit the community for years to come.

Building on a strong history of successful project delivery for River Bend Ag, LLC, Marine Solutions was selected to provide design-build services for upgrades at their New Madrid dock facility. This work supported the recent replacement of the facility’s material handling equipment. 

Marine Solutions led the design and construction for the installation of two new 72-inch monopile dolphins and associated pile guide systems connected to the existing dock barge. Dive teams also performed demolition of existing structures and identified debris and hazards to support safe pile driving operations.

These improvements enhanced the captured barge dock’s resilience and increased operational capabilities during extreme high-water conditions.

Working collaboratively with the owner and a trusted subcontractor, Marine Solutions delivered a turn-key seamless solution within six months of proposal, strengthening River Bend Ag’s operations and improving efficiency for the local agricultural community.

22nd Annual Best Places to Work in Kentucky Award Winners Announced

FRANKFORT, Ky.  – The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM Kentucky) and Saint Joseph Health announce the 100 companies (in alphabetical order) that made the 22nd Annual Best Places to Work in Kentucky list.

The winner rankings will be announced at the awards dinner Thursday, June 18, 2026, at the Central Bank Center in Lexington.

Winners from across the state have been selected in three categories: small companies of 15-149 employees, medium companies of 150-499 employees and large companies consisting of more than 500 employees (categories based on number of U.S. employees, only Kentucky employees surveyed). The selection process, managed by Workforce Research Group, is based on an assessment of the company’s employee policies and procedures and the results of an internal employee survey.

The competition is a multi-year initiative designed to motivate companies in the Commonwealth to focus, measure and move their workplace environments toward excellence. Numerous studies show a strong correlation between profitability and creating a good place to work.

For over 75 years, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce has represented the interests of member businesses throughout Kentucky – from family-owned shops to Fortune 500 companies. As the state’s premier business advocate, the Kentucky Chamber is a recognized and respected voice across the Commonwealth, working every day to unite business and advance Kentucky.

SHRM Kentucky consists of 12 local chapters that provide ongoing education and leadership opportunities for over 3,000 human resource professionals throughout the Commonwealth.

For more details about Best Places to Work in Kentucky, visit bestplacestoworkkentucky.com. 

Marine Solutions recently evaluated a 42-foot diameter, 33-foot tall steel storage tank.  Our team was tasked with developing a 3D finite element model to determine how the tank would perform under high wind conditions after two new 3’x7’ wall openings were cut into the tank wall.

Because of the tank’s size and geometry, finite element analysis (FEA) was the ideal method for accurately predicting stress levels throughout the tank wall. The tank’s wall thickness varied from 3/16" at the base to 3/32" at the top, making it especially vulnerable to buckling under compression. Cutting new openings in the tank wall further increased compressive stresses in the surrounding areas.

Our analysis revealed that reinforcing steel angles would be required around the new openings to maintain the tank’s structural stability.

A standout feature of this project was the quick turnaround time. Our team developed the 3D model, performed the analysis, and delivered results to the client in less than one week, keeping the project moving without disruption to the project schedule.

We’re grateful to our client for the opportunity to support them on this unique and fast-paced project.

Learn more about our engineering and analysis services: MSImarinesolutions.com/services.

In April 2024, Marine Solutions conducted a routine inspection of the waterfront structures at a marine terminal in Pennsylvania. The inspection included an assessment of the above- and below-water conditions of the structural components, collection of river bottom soundings and underwater soil samples, and prioritized repair recommendations. A mooring analysis was also performed to establish mooring limits for vessels typically occupying the berth.

The terminal is located on the Monongahela River and consisted of steel sheet pile mooring cells, tri-tie dolphins, and a platform structure. With a nearby lock and dam scheduled to be demolished—lowering the normal pool elevation by approximately 3.2 feet—the client required dredging in the berth area to maintain adequate vessel clearance and accommodate changing navigation conditions. Our team provided periodic hydrographic surveying and dredging support.

By October 2025, our team had completed a comprehensive repair project at the terminal, from design through construction. Work included installing new cell bands, demolishing and replacing an existing cell with a tri-tie pipe pile dolphin, removing and replacing concrete and steel bump-outs with driven pipe piles, upgrading mooring fittings, reinstalling two stairways, and providing additional dredging operations.
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These efforts strengthened the terminal’s infrastructure and supported continued safe and efficient unloading operations for asphalt transport barges.

This week, we celebrated our very first ESOP Statement Day! Once a year, we’ll take time to open our ESOP statements, see how our ownership shares have grown, and celebrate the fact that we’re all in this together as employee-owners.

We kicked things off with “Scoops of Ownership,” an ice cream social that made the day even sweeter. Whether you were in the office or out in the field, we made sure everyone had a chance to join in the fun and share in the excitement.

ESOP Statement Day isn’t just about a number on a page. It’s a reminder that everything we do, every project, every problem solved, every client served, adds to something we all own and are building together.
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Here’s to growing our future as a team. Happy first ESOP Statement Day!

We’re back from the Ports '25 Conference and still energized by the exchange of ideas, meaningful conversations, and shared passion for the future of our nation’s infrastructure.

Hosted by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the PORTS Conference is a leading technical forum bringing together professionals from across the maritime, port, and coastal infrastructure sectors. It's an invaluable opportunity for us to discuss the latest research, innovations, and challenges shaping our waterways and working waterfronts.

Marine Solutions had the honor to present on numerous topics this year, ranging from advances in marine engineering technology to practical real world applications. We’re proud of the expertise our team shared and the thoughtful discussions they helped lead.

Ports has always been and continues to be a highlight for our team, not only for its professional development value but also for the chance to connect with peers, build relationships, and engage with the broader marine infrastructure community.
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Scroll down to see some highlights from this year’s conference.

21st Annual Best Places to Work in Kentucky Award Winners Announced

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management (KYSHRM) and CHI Saint Joseph Health announce the 100 companies (in alphabetical order) that made the 21st Annual Best Places to Work in Kentucky list.

The winner rankings will be announced at the awards dinner Thursday, May 22, 2025, at the Central Bank Center in Lexington.

Winners from across the state have been selected in three categories: small companies of 15-149 employees, medium companies of 150-499 employees and large companies consisting of more than 500 employees (categories based on number of U.S. employees, only Kentucky employees surveyed). The selection process, managed by Workforce Research Group, is based on an assessment of the company’s employee policies and procedures and the results of an internal employee survey.

The competition is a multi-year initiative designed to motivate companies in the Commonwealth to focus, measure and move their workplace environments toward excellence. Numerous studies show a strong correlation between profitability and creating a good place to work.

For over 75 years, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce has represented the interests of member businesses throughout Kentucky – from family-owned shops to Fortune 500 companies. As the state’s premier business advocate, the Kentucky Chamber is a recognized and respected voice across the Commonwealth, working every day to unite business and advance Kentucky.

Kentucky SHRM consists of 12 local chapters that provide ongoing education and leadership opportunities for over 3,000 human resource professionals throughout the Commonwealth.

For more details about Best Places to Work in Kentucky, visit bestplacestoworkkentucky.com​.

​This week, we celebrated becoming an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company! This milestone means that every team member has a stake in our success. We couldn’t be prouder to work alongside such dedicated individuals who are now not just employees, but owners! Here’s to building a brighter future together!

Marine Solutions recently teamed up with AECOM and Commercial Divers Panama to complete an exciting project at the Panama Canal. We were brought in to perform rapid underwater inspections on six critical structures: Gatun Locks, Pedro Miguel Locks, Miraflores Locks, Gatun Spillway, Madden Dam, and Miraflores Spillway, as part of AECOM’s seismic analysis for the client.

The main goal of the project was to gather important data for seismic analysis to help ensure the long-term safety of these structures, many of which are over 100 years old. Since these were designed when seismic data wasn't as advanced, the seismic analysis is crucial for understanding how they’ll hold up in the future.

Our team used the CODA Octopus Underwater Inspection System to complete the sonar scanning, and when needed, our ADCI-certified divers stepped in to get a closer look. With this approach, we provided models to assist in the seismic analysis.
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A big shout-out to AECOM and Commercial Divers Panama for their support on this project!

We recently opened a new office in beautiful Virginia Beach! To celebrate, we hosted an open house that turned out to be a fantastic event filled with fun, food, and great company. It was the perfect way to introduce our new space to the community.

Our guests had the opportunity to win a Yeti cooler and other fun prizes by spinning the wheel. We also enjoyed some great food from Pungo Bros BBQ, which was a huge hit.

It was wonderful to see so many of our clients, friends, family, and industry colleagues come out to see our new space. The event was a perfect mix of catching up with old friends and making new connections. Our new office is something we’re really proud of, and hearing the positive feedback from our guests about the space was incredibly rewarding.
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This open house was just the beginning. We’re looking forward to making lots of great memories in our Virginia Beach office. A big thank you to everyone who came out and made it such a special event. Here’s to new beginnings and continued success together!