The Port of Long Beach is combining two container terminals into a single terminal which, upon construction completion, will be the most technologically advanced port.  The port will include fully automated, robotic handling of shipping containers from ship-to –rail.  The first phase of construction is segmented into stand-alone contract projects.  The project titled Marine Operations and Power Crane Maintenance Shop, of which MORGNER performed Quality Assurance, had unique challenges.  The project included extremely poor soil to the extent that soil conditioning needed to be implemented before the placement of building foundations.  A very shallow water table had posed complications to typical utility install.  In addition, the ocean front proximity further complicated underground and foundation work, especially at high tide.  The project ran on a fast-track schedule with a total project cost of $42 million.  From soil conditioning to project completion/closeout, MORGNER was responsible for all quality assurance and Port of Long Beach inspection activity for this project.  In addition to covering inspection of structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing, the project included a methane mitigation system, a diesel fuel island, 10-ton overhead gantry cranes, vehicle lifts, and high mast lighting: all of which were part of the quality assurance scope.

The Marine Operations Building at Middle Harbor – an example of the Port’s commitment to maximize sustainable practice in its new buildings – is designed and constructed to achieve a LEED Gold-level certification under the LEED for New Construction v3 2009 Rating System.