Waterways, Ports, Harbors, and Marinas

Many waterways, ports, harbors, and marinas often face similar coastal-related problems such as

• Sedimentation of waterway or port/harbor/marina entrance
• Wave forces on structures
• Wave disturbance inside port/harbor/marina basin
• Degradation of water quality
• Navigation safety with respect to water conditions and other vessels

Taylor Engineering has extensive experience in helping facility managers address these problems. We routinely assess conditions to understand the coastal processes at the problems’ core. For example, we often collect and analyze surface sediments and apply a hydrodynamic model and desktop sediment transport methods to determine sedimentation rates and subsequent maintenance dredging needs for marinas located on Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway.

We apply the latest methods and models to estimate wave forces on wharves, quays, seawalls, and piers to meet design criteria that account for waves and currents induced by tides, boats, winds, and storm surges. Proper design of protective wave barriers and thoughtful placement of wharves and docks within a basin can reduce the effects of storm-generated seas. Taylor Engineering evaluates this wave disturbance or agitation with the application of refraction-diffraction numerical wave models to proposed projects ranging from small marinas to large port facilities.

To address water quality issues, we typically construct a contaminant transport model of the area that incorporates the results of tidal hydrodynamic modeling. The contaminant transport model simulates the fate of pollutants within the enclosed port, harbor, or marina.

We address navigation safety, including wave and tidal current conditions, with numerical modeling and desktop assessments. Addressing navigation safety with respect to other vessels proves more challenging. Taylor Engineering, however, has addressed these concerns through waterway capacity studies. In the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, many private developers proposed to add many marinas to the waterway, thereby potentially causing a problem to commercial boat traffic and other recreational boaters. Taylor Engineering assessed the needs of the commercial boaters and other site-specific conditions to determine the maximum, safe capacity of the waterway.