As the U.S. Government pushes forward with its Pacific Partnership Strategy—increasing engagement, trade efforts, and bridging the gap between the U.S. and Pacific Islands to combat social and environmental issues—new funding will lead to increased opportunities in Oceania.
The U.S. Navy is preparing to initiate programs in the region under the Pacific Deterrence Initiative that will facilitate more than $40 billion in construction projects to modernize and strengthen U.S. forces and military capabilities.
An important region for the U.S. military since the Pacific War, Oceania is made up of four subregions: Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Conducting most of its Pacific Islands work since the 1980s in Polynesia and Micronesia, Manson has worked on many projects that have strengthened navigation channels and marine infrastructure for Guam, Kosrae, Chuuk, Yap, Pohnpei, and Palau—as well as Hawaii, where Manson is currently working.
Manson's History in the Western Pacific
In 1987, under the leadership of then-newly-appointed President Glenn Edwards, Manson Pacific—formerly a joint venture with Connolly-Pacific Co.—mobilized to the Western Pacific to begin the $1.8 million Aids to Navigation/Structures Micronesia & Marshall Islands project for the United States Coast Guard. The job involved installing lighted dolphins that would aid marine vessels in navigating Micronesian waterways, marking the first of many projects under the joint venture.
Preparation for the project was no small feat for Manson’s Seattle yard crew. They dedicated long hours to set a 100-ton AMERICAN crane on the MANSON 58 flat barge—a task that required meticulous planning and execution. This vessel was then towed by the tugboat HARRY M for over 20,000 nautical miles to the Marshall Islands capital of Majuro and the Micronesian islands of Guam, Yap, Palau, Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk, showcasing Manson’s unwavering commitment to delivering excellence.
After installing the lighted dolphins, Manson Pacific took on several more projects, including the Rehabilitation of the Nawiliwili Breakwater project in Hawaii and a dredging project in Guam. The Rehabilitation of the Nawiliwili Breakwater project involved repairing an existing concrete breakwater—a coastal structure that provides protection from tides, currents, and waves—for the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Honolulu District. Additionally, in Guam, the HARRY M assisted marine contractor Western Marine Construction on a six-month dredging project.
Manson Modernizes Transportation at Ford Island, Oahu
In 1993, Manson—in a joint venture with Dillingham Construction (formerly Dillingham Pacific Construction Ltd., Honolulu)—was MARINE CONSTRUCTION awarded the Ford Island Access Bridge project by client Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Hawaii.
This Design-Build project required the construction of a 4,700ft bridge and a 650-ft-wide floating drawbridge opening. The floating bridge connects the island of Oahu to the Ford Island Naval Base—a residential community housing navy personnel, which had only been accessible through a small ferry system. The bridge connects Ford Island with Kamehameha Highway, providing residents with access to the main island for supplies and recreation.
For the bridge design, the Manson-Dillingham team sought the help of engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade Douglas.
Manson commissioned a Pacific Northwest construction firm, Concrete Technology Corporation, in Tacoma, WA, to build three 310-ft x 50-ft pontoons for the new floating bridge.
Getting the Work Done at Ford Island
With help from the Seattle yard crew, derrick barges SCANDIA and VASA set sail for Ford Island, equipped with material and equipment to begin pile driving operations.
The SCANDIA and VASA drove 400 concrete piles for the bridge. In addition, the Manson-Dillingham crews floated three pontoons fabricated by Jesse Engineering and joined them end-to-end, creating a 650-ft floating draw span to allow passage for naval vessels.
The Ford Island Access Bridge was completed after three years of intense labor and collective efforts from the Manson-Dillingham project teams.
On April 15, 1998, NAVFAC Hawaii hosted a dedication ceremony, and the Ford Island Bridge was christened “Admiral Clarey Bridge,” in honor of WWII Admiral Bernard Clarey.
Manson’s Pacific Efforts in the New Millennium
The new millennium ushered in an uptick of impressive marine and dredging projects for Manson in the Pacific. Cultivating a longstanding relationship with NAVFAC Hawaii, the organization has been awarded vital jobs to improve infrastructure to support the U.S. Government’s larger mission in the Pacific.
In 2023, Manson was awarded several projects which involved dredging and caisson repair work at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam.
Dredging at Pearl Harbor
The P-209 Dry Dock Replacement project consisted of dredging an entrance channel and dry dock site at Naval Base Pearl Harbor.
The derrick barge VALHALLA and dump barge EASTPORT were towed 2,344 nautical miles to Pearl Harbor by third-party tugboat AMERICAN CHALLENGER.
The VALHALLA dredged and offloaded approximately 135,000 cubic yards of sand and rock material from the entrance channel and future dry dock site.
The scope of work supports a five-year plan that will enhance Pearl Harbor’s maintenance and modernization of naval vessels.
Caisson and Dry Dock Repairs at Pearl Harbor
Manson’s expertise and familiarity at Pearl Harbor proved useful when Manson picked up additional projects to repair and refurbish the caisson—the water-tight structure that pumps water out for construction and shipbuilding—at Dry Dock 4 and repair work at Dry Dock 2, respectively.
Spearheading the project team at Dry Dock 4, Project Manager Jeff Garcia spent months preparing and planning for the job.
“Every five to ten years, NAVFAC Hawaii commissions contractors to inspect the caisson for typical wear and tear to the plating,” Jeff says. “We enlisted a third-party inspector to thoroughly check the entire caisson interior and exterior to identify sections of the caisson that have been compromised.
Working at an active naval station requires planning, constant communication, and teamwork to ensure the project moves smoothly, according to Project Manager Denys Ilyichov representing specialty refurbishment subcontractor, ABHE & SVOBODA.
“Working with Jeff was great because he understood the importance of sticking to the project schedule and meeting the Navy’s demands,” Denys explains. “We did quite a bit of structural steel repairs to the caisson while the Navy conducted their own projects, so working with Jeff to coordinate the work was very easy.”
Manson finished the caisson repairs at Dry Dock 4 in November 2023, and repairs at Dry Dock 2 were already well underway.
Project Manager Phillip Tyer is overseeing the work at Dry Dock 2, which will replace and improve typical wear and tear areas of the dry dock structure, with completion planned for Summer 2024. Phil and the Dry Dock 2 project team are working hard to build lasting partnerships at Pearl Harbor—coordinating with the Navy, key subcontractor Triton Marine, and shipyard personnel to satisfy the base’s project and operational needs.
“Manson is playing an important role in maintaining the functionality of Pearl Harbor’s dry docks, which is vital for servicing the Navy fleet,” Jeff says. “It was a great experience working with our partners at NAVFAC Hawaii and growing Manson’s influence throughout the Pacific.”