Reinforcing the Riverfront: Upgrades to a Pennsylvania Marine Terminal

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.