Marine Civil Engineering Services

Urban Waterfronts & Marine -------------------------- Moffatt & Nichol has helped re-energize premier international waterfront cities as they seek new economic growth through the revitalization of previously neglected neighborhoods. This is accomplished by creating mixed-use spaces with residences, hotels, retail shops, cafes and restaurants.  Projects include improved waterfront access; municipal and private marinas; riverwalks, seawalls and piers; wetland creation and restoration; and public spaces, amphitheaters and maritime museums. Moffatt & Nichol provides comprehensive services that include planning; civil, coastal, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering; as well as design and construction document preparation. These services are supplemented by specialties such as economic, dredging, seismic and environmental studies; and numerical and physical modeling of waterways. Urban Waterfronts ----------------- Marinas -------- Moffatt & Nichol’s long history in the ever-evolving waterfront industry includes marina planning and design for a portfolio of projects in diverse locations around the world. Moffatt & Nichol responds to the challenges presented by each location, such as tropical storms, extreme water level fluctuations, ice forces and earthquakes. As boat designs change and berth demands increase, Moffatt & Nichol is at the forefront in meeting the needs of marina users, from small craft to megayachts, providing efficient and exciting marina destinations. Cruise Ship Facilities ---------------------- The cruise ship market is a major component of the tourism industry, with millions of passengers sailing each year. The industry’s rapid growth has seen an increase in ship construction and the subsequent requirement for new and improved passenger and berthing facilities. Moffatt & Nichol provides a variety of engineering and program management services to support cruise ship terminal architects and planners. These services range from the planning and design of facilities for passenger access and egress to the preparation of construction documents for new facilities and repairs to existing facilities, including dredging and navigation improvements. Historic Vessel Moorings ------------------------ An integral part of modern waterfront planning involves creating space for the preservation of historic vessels. Waterfront communities seek to preserve and perpetuate their maritime history through facilities that allow the public to experience tradition and history first hand. The restoration and maintenance of historic vessels as dockside interpretive exhibits, or as “at sea” programming vessels, can provide a public classroom for students and visitors. Moffatt & Nichol brings a unique understanding and approach to designing mooring and support facilities for such historic vessels. Piers ----- Piers—walkways above the sea—serve as a great setting for fishing and watching people or the waves below, as well as a spectacular vantage point to catch a sunrise or sunset. They are ideal for watching activities such as surfing, sailing, beach volleyball, and offshore powerboat racing as well as becoming a centerpiece of a community. Moffatt & Nichol inspects, designs and prepares construction documents for numerous such structures along shorelines worldwide. They are designed to withstand extreme waves and earthquakes while being sensitive to historical or community aesthetics. Ferry Terminals --------------- Ferries serve as an important transit link along many urban waterways. Whether large auto or passenger ferry service or smaller water taxi service, Moffatt & Nichol provides specialized expertise in planning, operational analysis, traffic management, design, environmental studies, permitting and construction of ferry terminals (including piers and docks, mooring systems, site work and terminal buildings). The firm maintains a group of planners and engineers specifically dedicated to ferry terminal planning and design, as well as coastal and hydraulic engineers experienced in the analysis and design of navigation channels including vessel maneuvering and channel capacity studies. Resorts -------- Moffatt & Nichol’s presence on the world’s destination waterfronts illustrates successful project delivery and ongoing relationships with our resort clients worldwide. Our marina and resort projects range from initial site assessments and evaluations, to final design, construction management, and beach restoration. Moffatt & Nichol is the ideal partner for a resort venture, having more than 60 years experience in waterfront facility design. We have an impressive corporate resume that includes public and private marinas, comprehensive urban waterfront renewal projects, and resorts, as well as major industrial and military harbor and offshore facilities. Moffatt & Nichol’s expertise also extends to innovative solutions for resort waterfront developments and the unique challenges of working in remote locations. These solutions are derived from firm’s past experience in mooring analyses, coastal and littoral processes, and wind, wave, and climate impacts. This experience allows the firm to design lasting and cost-effective solutions that minimize storm damage, restore beaches, provide attractive resort destinations, and safe harbors. Waterfront Master Planning -------------------------- Moffatt & Nichol often serves as a marine engineering representative for interdisciplinary design teams led by internationally acclaimed architects and landscape architects providing waterfront master planning services. These plans seek to reconnect cities to their riverfront and reinvigorate development opportunities and recreational space. Moffatt & Nichol provides assistance with respect to evaluation of existing facilities, design of waterfront structures, shore protection, regulatory issues, commercial navigation interests, marine market studies, and recreational boating, water taxi and ferry opportunities. Economic and Market Studies --------------------------- Key to the success of any project, new or existing, is the understanding of regional market data and competitive analysis. Moffatt & Nichol brings economic and market study capabilities to help plan the optimal facility for any given marina market. Studies address the economic and market outlook of the boating and marina industry with specific emphasis on the regional market to assess the competitive position of the target facility. These analyses include demand trends and forecasts, population growth and price fluctuations, potential high and low revenue growth scenarios, and economic considerations in phasing of new marinas and upgrading existing facilities. Destination Resorts ------------------- Small Craft Harbors ------------------- Moffatt & Nichol’s international reputation for expertise in waterfront development includes extensive and experience in the planning, design and rehabilitation of small craft harbors and marinas. The firm’s multi-disciplinary approach to small craft harbor and marina planning and design enables Moffatt & Nichol to develop innovative solutions for smaller but no less challenging sites. Design issues for small craft harbor and marina developments include water quality, sediment transport, storm and ice protection, dredging, utility and fuel systems, float layout, dock systems, environmental compatibility and habitat compensation. Moffatt & Nichol often teams with market opportunity and strategists, urban planners, architectural firms and environmental specialists on many waterfront revitalization projects. Our experience demonstrates the benefits of an inclusive planning process in which input from all stakeholders is encouraged, and early and continuous recognition of resource conservation values leads to formulation of sustainable projects that are more readily permitted. In recent years, the market has evolved, and harbor and marina projects have shifted from the public sector to private enterprise. In addition, the market is evolving towards an increased portion of larger boats, which requires small craft harbor and marina facilities to implement new and innovative layouts, materials, utilities and real estate bundling opportunities in order to be competitive in the market place. Moffatt & Nichol’s experience and planning approach ensures that each site and market specific project will realize the appropriate short and long term slip mix, layout, operation and infrastructure. Obtaining the necessary permits to implement a major rehabilitation or new construction project can be a time consuming and expensive challenge. Frequently, habitat compensation is required. Our knowledge of the regulatory environment combined with our abilities in hydrodynamic and sedimentation modeling and our experience in proposing practical compensation alternatives allows us to secure regulatory agency approvals and address environmental issues in a cost effective and expeditious manner. Urban Developments ------------------