Philadelphia Regional Port Authority

Pier 80 and 82 Hardware Repairs | Pier 82 and 84 Pile Repairs
Philadelphia-Regional-Port-Authority

A History of Excellence

For an economically-vital port like the Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort), it’s important to regularly inspect, repair, and maintain its facilities and structures. Established over 300 years ago in the earliest days of our country, the port has seen many upgrades and expansions in this time, many of which have been courtesy of S. T. Hudson. For this particular project, the S. T. Hudson team used advanced marine engineering capabilities and the in-house dive inspection team to keep three of PhilaPort's busiest piers in excellent working condition.

PhilaPort-hardware-and-pile-repair-goals

Project Goals

Avoiding unexpected repairs is essential for profitability and efficiency. To meet this objective, S. T. Hudson developed a plan to discover potential issues before they become larger problems. This plan helped PhilaPort achieve the following goals:

Keep Piers in Optimum Operating Condition

Time and wear naturally lead to degradation in the piers. With inspections and engineered design for repairs and rehabilitation, S. T. Hudson helps keep the piers in peak operating condition.

Enhance Cargo Loading/Unloading Capabilities

Over the years, the materials used in marine construction have evolved and improved. Upgrading as technology advances helps the port improve their ability to efficiently load/unload cargo.

Key Data Points

45
Draft Depth
1701
Port Organization Est.
2,500
Ships Per Year

Our Team

Want to learn more about our individual expertise? Get to know our team!

Robert Hudson, P.E.

President and Chief Executive Officer
Robert Hudson, P.E. Robert Hudson, P.E.

Robert Hudson, P.E.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Hudson is a Senior Civil/Structural Engineer with over 40 years of experience in the design and construction of marine facilities. He has special expertise in construction methods and estimating. Over the course of his career, Mr. Hudson has been involved in a wide range of construction activities, with emphasis on marine structures, bridges and pile foundations.

In 2002, Mr. Hudson became President and Chief Operating officer of S. T. Hudson Engineers, Inc and continues to serve in that capacity today. Mr. Hudson is a Registered Professional Engineer in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. His professional affiliations include The Ports of Philadelphia Maritime Society; The Deep Foundation Institute; The American Society of Civil Engineers and The National Society of Professional Engineers.

James Thomas

Chief Operating Officer & Vice President
James Thomas James Thomas

James Thomas

Chief Operating Officer & Vice President

Mr. Thomas is Hudson’s Chief Operating Officer and has over 35 years of broad experience in the planning, design, management and execution of marine construction and dredging projects.

Mr. Thomas has worked on projects throughout the United States, the Caribbean, South America and the Middle East. His marine construction and dredging experience includes participation in small to large scale capital works, maintenance and superfund projects. He has managed the construction of offshore ocean ship berthing facilities as well as the construction of harbor berth facilities and terminals.

Leslie (Hudson) Gerhard

Vice President
Leslie (Hudson) Gerhard Leslie (Hudson) Gerhard

Leslie (Hudson) Gerhard

Vice President

Ms. Gerhard is Vice President at S. T. Hudson Engineers, Inc. with over 15 years of experience in marketing, company operations, contract administration, and client relationships. She is responsible for day-to-day office operations, generating and overseeing proposal submissions, marketing efforts, contract administration, team recruitment, and coordination and administration of the summer internship program. In addition, she is involved in developing business among existing clients and new clients which contribute significantly to corporate revenues.

Ms. Gerhard is part of the fourth generation of Hudson family members working in the business, working side by side with her father, Robert S. Hudson, P.E., to lead S. T. Hudson Engineers, Inc.

Anthony DePasquale, P.E.

Vice President & Director of Marine Engineering and Environmental Services
Anthony DePasquale, P.E. Anthony DePasquale, P.E.

Anthony DePasquale, P.E.

Vice President & Director of Marine Engineering and Environmental Services

Mr. DePasquale is a Civil & Geo-technical Engineer with 37 years of experience as a designer, construction manager, negotiator, and permitting consultant with the US Army Corps of Engineers. He specializes in the design, management, and construction of flood protection systems, bulkhead rehabilitation, and waste and dredge disposal containment facilities.

In addition, he has reviewed and negotiated numerous construction contract claims, permitting issues, and engineering disputes. Mr. DePasquale's experience has given S.T. Hudson valuable insight into the permitting process and environmental impact assessments from the viewpoint of the USACE and other regulatory agencies.

William Jenkins

Vice President & Director of Marine Services
William Jenkins William Jenkins

William Jenkins

Vice President & Director of Marine Services

Mr. Jenkins has 17 years of experience and a comprehensive knowledge of various hydrographic technologies and methods.

Recently, Mr. Jenkins has applied his talents to implementing various multibeam hydrographic surveys for ship navigation safety, object detection, clearance surveys, sediment transfer surveys, pre- and post-dredge surveys, and bridge inspection scour monitoring.

Project Details

One of the oldest ports in America, the Port of Philadelphia sees plenty in the way of ship traffic and cargo. Because of this, it is vital that the piers undergo regular inspection, maintenance, and repairs to ensure they remain in top working condition. S. T. Hudson helps the Port of Philadelphia do this.

The Port of Philadelphia has built its legacy as a major center of maritime industrial commerce for over 300 years. Located on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, it is one of the biggest fruit and perishables ports in the U.S. Keeping a regular maintenance and repair schedule is essential for safe and uninterrupted operations. Within the port, there are several marine terminals, each with specialized capabilities. Pier 80 handles newsprint, wood pulp, lumber, coated paper, and other forest products through the Philadelphia Forest Products Center. Pier 82 serves as one of the port's main terminals for perishables due to its modern refrigerated storage and container-handling capabilities. Pier 84 is dedicated exclusively to cocoa beans and other cocoa products. For this project, S. T. Hudson was tasked with inspecting all three to determine what repairs were needed.

The in-house diving team performed their inspection using advanced hydrographic surveying equipment that would help S. T. Hudson generate drawings and put together a comprehensive engineering design report. S. T. Hudson’s history in the maritime community allows the team access to the original drawings and plans when the piers were built, which helps the team provide more accurate recommendations. The team also performed above-water inspections, leading to a plan to deliver hardware repairs for Piers 80 and 82, and pile repairs for Piers 82 and 84. S. T. Hudson oversaw completion of the project, which allowed the port to provide an enhanced experience for cargo ships.

Scope of Services

  • Initial inspection utilizing an in-house dive team
  • Hydrographic surveying to determine water depth
  • Construction drawings and technical specifications
  • Final design for all aspects of each pier’s rehabilitation
  • Cost estimates, bid documents, and a diver survey team to inspect the contractor’s progress during rehabilitation
  • Following each dive inspection, a detailed report of the contractor’s progress with noted deficiencies and updated drawings
  • Regular progress meetings throughout the course of the rehabilitation

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