Launch of USCGC Hollyhock from Expanded Marinette Marine Launch Facilities -- 2003

Marinette Marine Corporation, a full-service shipbuilder in Marinette, Wisconsin, was exploring options for expansion. To improve its launch facilities, the Menominee River had to be dredged 10 feet deeper to a depth of 35 feet, and the launch area had to handle 840,000 pounds and be extended to nearly 400 feet long from its original 225 feet. Working with the City of Marinette, Marinette Marine Corporation received a $4 million Harbor Assistance Program grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to pay for the project.

The primary concern of the design was to provide the necessary stability of the launch area. The final design included placing steel beams in front of the dock wall, with the original structure still intact, substantially reducing the cost of the project.

Flexibility features were added to the design of the facility. A steel beam was built into the deck, allowing the launchway frames to be placed anywhere on the launch pad. Also, the improved launch pad is 3 feet thick, providing distributed support over the entire surface.

The City of Marinette and Marinette Marine Corporation also retained Ayres Associates to provide project management and construction observation services for the dredging portion. In addition, the City of Marinette boat ramp was improved to accommodate the larger ships being launched at Marinette Marine Corporation and to improve navigation to and from the City boat ramp.

Ayres Associates was responsible for evaluating the impact of dredging. Services included conducting site visits, surveying, providing subsurface exploration and soil testing, and completing underwater inspection. Approximately 15,000 cubic yards of material was removed from the waterway.

Ayres Associates also provided construction observation services. It was crucial to Marinette Marine Corporation that production continue during construction. Ayres Associates was able to work successfully around both production and launching schedules.

The completed launch area is almost 400 feet long and 65 feet wide. Now, Marinette Marine Corporation can build and launch ships that weigh as much as 4,000 tons, 1,600 tons more than before the expansion.

The project received a 2004 Engineering Excellence State Finalist Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Wisconsin.

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