Ports & Maritime

Aging and deteriorating structures – what to do to preserve our infrastructure

With the aging of port infrastructure around the world, it is crucial to understand the current condition of these structures and adopt cost-effective strategies to repair and maintain these assets.

Over the past decade, considerable work has been conducted on the mechanisms responsible for the deterioration of structures exposed to harsh environments and how to report condition and performance.

Recently, a new generation of deterioration models and risk-based management approaches, combined with state-of-the-art GIS technology have seen the day and are used on projects to assist port owners and engineers in optimizing the use of available funds in keeping their ports as safe and competitive as possible.

Long-standing Expertise in durability design engineering of Concrete Infrastructure

SIMCO has extensive experience and an important engineering know-how when it comes to port infrastructure. From container terminals, to cargo and multi-use berths, dry docks, quays/wharves, harbors and piers, bridges, roads, tunnels and buildings, SIMCO can assist owners, managers and operators in analyzing, designing, and in optimizing the service life of their infrastructure.

New construction projects

For new construction projects, SIMCO can assist in the development of standards for performance-based designs; quantify and compare the service life of design alternatives; validate future exposure conditions and degradation mechanisms in order to specify concrete mixtures for optimum durability. SIMCO can also validate mixture designs and implement quality control protocols and procedures during construction.

Existing Structures

For existing structures, SIMCO can provide a comprehensive assessment of the current condition of a structure, perform service-life and lifecycle cost analyses for a range of repair alternatives; and quantify the effectiveness of corrective and preventive intervention strategies.

Our experience in durability engineering of waterfront concrete structures is unmatched

SIMCO’s experts have worked with numerous major international organizations to constantly enhance best practices of the industry. Our long-term collaboration with the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center (NFESC) of the U.S. Navy, our implication in the construction of the new Panama Canal (Third set of locks project) and our partnership with Port of Rotterdam for the development of a world-class infrastructure asset management system, speaks to our ability to provide the best engineering solutions to our different clients around the world.

Development of a custom waterfront structure management system (WSMS)

SIMCO has also developed a completely customizeable Waterfront Structure Management System (WSMS) for the ports and maritime sector. The WSMS was developed to provide Port owners and managers with a means to optimize the preservation of their inventory of marine structures and to help them reliably predict the future performance of concrete and steel elements exposed to a wide range of aggressive environments.

Our services

• Assist in the development of standards for performance-based designs
• Quantify and compare the service life of design alternatives in accordance to lifecycle cost analyses
• Validate future exposure conditions and degradation mechanisms in order to specify concrete mixtures for optimum durability
• Validate mixture designs and implement quality control protocols and procedures during construction
• Provide a comprehensive assessment of the current condition of a structure
• Perform service-life and lifecycle cost analyses for a range of repair alternatives
• Quantify the effectiveness of corrective and preventive intervention strategies