Template revised January 10, 2019.
COMMISSION
AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Item No.
8e
ACTION ITEM
Date of Meeting
April 11, 2023
DATE: March 24, 2023
TO: Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director
FROM: Kenneth Lyles, Director, Maritime Operations and Security
Darrell Dare, Sr. Manager, Recreational Boating
Tim Leonard, Capital Project Manager
SUBJECT: Harbor Island Marina Dock-E Float and North Pier Improvements Project
Construction Funding (C800678)
Amount of this request:
$3,955,000
Total estimated project cost:
$5,000,000
ACTION REQUESTED
Request Commission authorization for the Executive Director to advertise and execute a major
works construction contract to replace elements of Dock-E at Harbor Island Marina and increase
its current vessel loading capacity. Total request for this action will be $3,955,000 for a project
total authorization of $5,000,000.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This capital improvements construction will replace the southernmost 23 (out of 78 total) existing
floats at Dock-E at Harbor Island Marina with heavier duty floats and piles; upgrade the remaining
dock portion; and replace the dock’s elevated North Pier structure to restore vehicle access to it.
These proposed improvements are needed to increase the dock’s current vessel loading capacity
and improve its operational ability to provide moorage for large commercial tug tenants.
Port Environmental staff are currently in negotiation with the tribes, as well as in discussions with
USACE and National Marine Fisheries Service regarding the required USACE permit, but based on
current agency backloads and increased regulatory requirements, the permit is not anticipated
to be issued until as late as summer 2023. Due to current market conditions though, it’s
imperative that construction approval is granted in April 2023 to complete the bid/contractual
processes necessary to provide the contractor a minimum of five months to procure the materials
necessary to subsequently start and complete the first construction phase in-water work within
the initial limited 2023-24 “fish window”.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8e Page 2 of 7
Meeting Date: April 11, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
JUSTIFICATION
Dock Structural Integrity
Originally designed and constructed in 1983 for recreational boats, Dock-E at Harbor Island
Marina has been providing moorage for large commercial tugs for over a decade and is currently
primarily utilized by long-time commercial tenants Global Diving and Western Towboat, as well
as other commercial marine vessel tenants on a more limited basis. As a result of the structural
load from heavier vessels, up to 94-ton (gross) and 120-feet in length, much of the dock’s piles,
walers, cleats, bollards, and pile hoops have been severely worn or damaged and these elements
have been repaired or upgraded over the last ten years by Marine Maintenance in a continual
effort to extend the dock’s capability to accommodate the tenant vessels’ berthing needs.
Additionally, although many of the original timber guide piles have been replaced with steel piles
as part of a facility programmatic replacement, some lower load capacity timber piles still remain.
All of these factors have contributed to Dock-E currently functioning with a reduced level of
structural integrity as well as requiring a higher rate of repairs and maintenance within its
remaining service life.
Economic Impact
This improvement project contributes directly to the jobs engine of the local maritime industry
cluster. Tugboats and towboats are an essential component of the maritime sector. As just one
measure of this value, the 2015 Ties that Bind report by The McDowell Group found that Seattle
and Tacoma continue to serve as the “lifeline” to Alaska as they capture 97% of cargo, by weight,
moved between Puget Sound and Alaska. This report examined the array of goods and services
that Alaska sources from Puget Sound. It found that in 2013 the total value of those goods and
services was $5.4 billion. Additionally, the more recent 2019 Community Attributes “Tri-Port”
Economic Impact study identified tug and barge operators that utilize Port of Seattle facilities
dockage and moorage leases generated nearly $2.4 million in revenue for the Port of Seattle in
2017.
DETAILS
Design and Environmental Sustainability
The proposed Dock-E Float and North Pier Improvements project was designated a Tier 2 project
under the Port’s Sustainable Evaluation Framework Policy Directive. As presented to the Energy
and Sustainability committee in 2021, the project team explored material alternatives to
minimize adverse environmental impacts, while still meeting determined design goals and
objectives. Accordingly, the project’s proposed environmentally beneficial improvements
include the following:
• Existing treated timber piles to be eliminated, reducing water quality impacts
• New steel piles and dock floats framework to be epoxy coated (rather than galvanized) to
reduce leaching of zinc into waterways
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8e Page 3 of 7
Meeting Date: April 11, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
• Fiberglass grated decking on new dock floats to allow light penetration to the water below
while maintaining ADA accessibility
• High-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe filled with buoyant foam material to provide
increased durability and corrosion resistance
Permitting
The following required permits have been issued for the project:
• State Environmental Policy Act - Determination of Non-Significance
• Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife - Hydraulic Project Approval
• SDCI - Shoreline Substantial Development Permit
The following required permits are currently under review:
• SDCI Construction Permit: The proposed design has been approved by SDCI and the
required Construction Permit is anticipated to be issued by, or soon after, the Port
scheduled construction authorization date of 4/11/23.
• USACE Section 10 Permit: The required USACE Section 10 permit is pending approval.
Port Environmental staff are currently in negotiation with the tribes, as well as in
discussions with USACE and National Marine Fisheries Service, but due to agency
backloads and increased regulatory requirements, the in-water permit is not anticipated
to be issued until as late as summer 2023.
The opportunity and risk identified in conjunction with advertising and executing a major works
construction contract for this project prior to the SDCI and USACE permits being issued are as
follows:
• The opportunity of this contracting option is the mitigation of schedule risks associated
with delaying the bid advertisement, or possibly bid opening. Due to current market
conditions, it’s imperative that the contractor has a minimum of five months to procure
the materials necessary to subsequently start and complete the first construction phase
in-water work within the initial limited 2023-24 “fish window”. “Advertising & Executing
Contract without Permit” provides the means for the contractor to start the materials
procurement required to meet the regulatory “fish windows” and ultimately complete
full project construction by spring 2025.
• The risk of this contracting option is that of a contract change order or termination, in the
event of a permit condition arising that impacts the contracted construction work. Given
the comparatively straight forward nature of the project scope, as well as the minimally
anticipated potential review agency or tribal concerns, the risk of any design change
associated with the pending approval of the USACE permit is considered to be low.
Based on this assessment, the project has been approved to proceed to advertisement and
contract execution prior to issuance of all permits.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8e Page 4 of 7
Meeting Date: April 11, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Construction
Construction will be performed under a major works contract to complete the proposed
improvements. All construction work and materials storage will be performed utilizing barges to
the degree possible. As required construction materials to be fabricated and/or procured,
include new float dock sections and pier structural elements, as well as steel piles; pre-
procurement of these materials by the Port is neither recommended nor planned.
Diversity in Contracting
The project design has been performed by a consultant engineering firm under an existing Port
of Seattle IDIQ contract in which a women and minority owned business enterprise (WMBE)
participation commitment of 43% has been established. In coordination with the Port’s Diversity
in Contracting Department, a WMBE aspirational goal of 5% has been determined for the
project’s construction work.
Scope of Work
The project’s construction scope includes the following improvement elements:
• Complete replacement of 23 (out of 78 total) of Dock-E’s existing float sections with new
heavier duty floats, piles, and appurtenances designed for larger vessel berthing and
higher load mooring capability. The existing floats to be replaced are located at the south
end of Dock-E.
• Refurbishment of 55 (out of 78 total) of Dock-E’s existing float sections consisting of
replacing all remaining timber guide piles with higher load capacity steel piles;
replacement of damaged walers and cleats; nominal leveling; and concrete surface crack
repairs and sealing. The existing floats, to remain in place and be refurbished, comprise
the north portion of Dock-E.
• Demolition and replacement of Dock-E’s existing elevated timber North Pier, with a new
concrete structure and steel pile, to restore vehicle access to it for loading and unloading
purposes.
Schedule
The project construction is planned to be completed in two separate phases for the North Pier
and south dock section replacements to maintain moorage (not currently available at other Port
facilities) at HIM Dock-E for the existing tenants. In-water work for the project, primarily
consisting of dock/pier demolition and pile installation, must be performed during the typical
permitting “fish window” of October 1
st
– February 15
th
of each year at this location. Additionally,
to avoid impacting tribal treaty rights, the in-water work will not start until December 15
th
of each
year.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8e Page 5 of 7
Meeting Date: April 11, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
Given these constraints, in-water work is planned to be performed within two separate
abbreviated “fish windows” of December 15
th
– February 15
th
in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Construction Schedule Milestones:
Date
4/11/2023
4/13/2023
5/11/2023
June 2023 +/-
June 2023
June 2023
Aug 2023
12/15/2023
12/15/2024
3/31/2025
Cost Breakdown
This Request
Total Project
Design and Permitting
$0
$1,045,000
Construction
$3,955,000
$3,955,000
Total
$3,955,000
$5,000,000
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
Alternative 1: Do nothing – continue to repair Dock-E as necessary to maintain current tenant
vessels moorage.
Pros
• Retains Port capital for other priority projects and financial initiatives.
• Avoids temporary construction impacts to existing tenant moorage.
Cons
• Dock-E will continue to incur damage due to high impact loading from existing large
tenant vessels.
• High ongoing repair and maintenance costs will continue to be incurred in order to keep
the dock operational.
• Dock-E will continue to be at greater risk of safety/structural failure due to ongoing heavy
commercial vessel berthing loads.
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8e Page 6 of 7
Meeting Date: April 11, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
This is not the recommended alternative
Alternative 2: Perform a full replacement (Level 4) of all Dock-E floats and the north access
pier.
Pros
• All-new Dock-E with full 50-year service life for north as well as south floats.
• Reduced maintenance cost for required tenant vessel moorage.
• Eliminates current safety/failure risk for entire dock due to existing tenant large vessel
moorage loading impacts.
Cons
• High initial cost for full dock replacement.
• High level of temporary construction disruption to tenant moorage.
This is not the recommended alternative
Alternative 3:
Perform proposed combination (Levels 2 and 3) of Dock-E float
replacements/repairs as well as replacement of north access pier
Pros
• Extends overall service life of Dock-E while addressing most urgent tenant vessel loading
impacts at south end of dock.
• Restores vehicle access capability to north pier in order to better meet tenant business
needs.
• Limits temporary construction impacts to existing tenant moorage.
• Maintains ability to extend tenant vessel berthing, with continued maintenance, while
limiting overall cost of capital improvements and future maintenance.
• April 2023 construction approval mitigates 1-year schedule delay risk associated with
delaying the bid advertisement and subsequent construction contract award.
Cons
• Temporary impact to tenant vessel moorage due to required construction phasing.
• Higher than typical maintenance costs will continue to be incurred with north dock floats
in order to keep the dock operational for large vessel moorage.
• Combination of old and new floats will require more complicated maintenance schedule.
• Construction approval prior to issuance of USACE permit creates a low risk of a
construction contract change order or termination, in the event of a permit condition
arising that impacts the contracted construction work.
This is the recommended alternative
COMMISSION AGENDA – Action Item No. 8e Page 7 of 7
Meeting Date: April 11, 2023
Template revised June 27, 2019 (Diversity in Contracting).
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Cost Estimate/Authorization Summary
Capital
Expense
Total
COST ESTIMATE
Estimate at design funding
$4,500,000
$0
$4,500,000
Current change
$500,000
0
$500,000
Revised estimate
$5,000,000
0
$5,000,000
AUTHORIZATION
Previous authorizations
$1,045,000
0
$1,045,000
Current request for authorization
$3,955,000
0
$3,955,000
Total authorizations, including this request
$5,000,000
0
$5,000,000
Annual Budget Status and Source of Funds
This project has been included in the 2023 Capital Plan under C800678 T102 HIM E Dock
Rehabilitation for a total project cost of $4,780,000. The increased estimated cost will be covered
by the Maritime CIP Reserve.
This project is funded by the General Fund.
Financial Analysis and Summary
Project cost for analysis
$5,000,000
Business Unit (BU)
Maritime Operations & Security
Effect on business performance
(NOI after depreciation)
This project is not expected to directly generate
incremental revenue. Currently, E Dock generates
approximately $77K in annual revenue. It is estimated
this project will increase annual depreciation expense by
approximately $100,000.
IRR/NPV (if relevant)
Payback: 28 years
CPE Impact
N/A
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS REQUEST
(1) Design Approach Paper
(2) Presentation slides
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS
November 17, 2020 – The Commission authorized $1,045,000 for design funding.