Abstract: Those of us in the ports and marine industry know the work we do is specialized and unique. One commonality we should all share, however, is knowing the exact incessant sound of a diesel hammer striking the top of a concrete pile over and over…and over. Wharf pile driving is a staple to the port infrastructure industry and truly one of the foremost examples of “heavy civil” construction: 120-Ton cranes hoisting a 20-ton hammer and a 30-Ton pile nearly 200 feet in the air and driving it with 200,000 ft-lbs of energy per blow all while floating in the middle of a channel with container vessels passing by going 20 knots. Yet, with all of these extremities, the nature of wharf pile driving work is such that it requires some of the highest levels of precision and accuracy with regards to positioning and alignment in order to fulfill stringent design requirements.
Over the last decade, the Port of Long Beach has completed four capital improvement projects, as large as $146 million in contract value, which in total, required the driving of over 3,000 concrete piles. There were stark differences between the projects including the contractor, pile lengths, driving conditions, and wharf deck configuration. Yet despite these variances, each of these projects managed to incur at least one claim related to pile driving, most specifically involving misalignment of the piles. Spanning these four projects, the Port of Long Beach Construction Management Division staff have reviewed and negotiated pile-related claims in the millions of dollars and months of construction duration time.
Therefore, it is apparent that as an owner or owner representative, it is of the utmost importance to have processes and procedures in place prior to and during construction to best prepare for situations of misaligned and out-of-position piles. Examples of such procedures include an Indicator Program, Gamma-Gamma testing, RFI submission/response deadlines, and preventative risk measures to mitigate the need for late design modifications. The Port of Long Beach Construction Management Division have developed a systematic approach to data tracking for claim mitigation of pile misalignments to help deliver the successful completion of these aforementioned capital improvement projects.
Projects continue to grow more complex, include dynamic processes, involve multiple stakeholders, and possess various uncertainties, making them prone to claim exposure more so than ever before. Best practices for claim management will be showcased by examples of risk management, data collection, documentation strategies, seeking of legal guidance, and team dynamics. Finally, we will spotlight how these best practices established from previous projects can best be incorporated into future contracts. Through a proactive claim management process, we will share how all owners, organizations, and consultants can benefit from these learned lessons and reduce risk on their future projects.
How does this project / topic contribute to the advancement of the industry and profession?: Volume of import cargo continues to rise driving the need to upgrade and expand shipping terminals across the country. The need for Owners to have effective risk and claim management tools for Pile driving and wharf construction is as relevant as ever before. We believe that by sharing these wharf pile misalignment best practices and lessons learned, owners, consultants and organizations will benefit by advancing their practices and enhancing the delivery of complex projects efficiently and in a cost-effective manner.
Does the project / topic implement new and innovative techniques, materials, technologies, and delivery methods?: This topic will discuss the innovative techniques and approaches in claim mitigation for pile misalignment in wharf construction projects that have been implemented at the Port of Long Beach. Specifically, pile driving and wharf construction is extremely relevant to future emission improvement efforts such as the construction of offshore wind turbine farms. The Port of Long Beach is in active planning to construct a massive wharf, known as Pier Wind, to facilitate the delivery and assembly of these wind turbines. Having a successful risk and claim management strategy for the work included in these types of ground-breaking facilities is essential.
What was the most challenging aspect of your project / topic and how did you handle it to ensure success?: Time management and staff resource allocation is one of the most challenging aspects of wharf and pile claim management. These are complex and record driven claims that can easily tailspin down a path of substantial project delay. Without a preconceived claim management plan, agencies may have to allocate hundreds, if not thousands, of unplanned resource hours into reviewing documents and pile driving logs. Addressing the challenges prior and establishing proper communication among all stakeholders is imperative to the success of wharf construction. This topic will explain how the Port of Long Beach handled pile misalignment claims effectively and successfully.
Who is the target audience for this paper?: Owners, owner representatives, contractors, engineers/design professionals, project managers/construction managers and legal professionals will benefit from this paper that can help and serve as a resource and can be implemented and discussed among all stakeholders of the project during the different phases of a project.
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