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USACE to deliver Iraqi Navy state-of-the-art ship berthing facility (Um Qsar)

Multi-National Force-Iraq

Sunday, 13 December 2009

News release
Date: Dec. 13, 2009

USACE to deliver Iraqi Navy state-of-the-art ship berthing facility

Um Qsar, Iraq – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is embarking on the first Foreign Military Sales (FMS) project with Iraq. The construction of the $53 million Umm Qasr pier and seawall project, to provide a state-of-the-art berthing facility for the Iraqi Navy in Basra Province, began in October 2008.

According to Jim Hynum, a construction representative with the USACE Gulf Region South Basra Area Office, the state-of-the-art facility will serve the Iraqi Navy for years to come. “The pier and seawall project will provide a state-of-the-art berthing facility for the Iraqi Navy and support patrol vessels charged with securing the vital port infrastructure and seaways in Iraq’s territorial waters,” Hynum said. “The project is incorporating the latest marine technology to support the fleet, charged with protecting Iraq’s oil infrastructure which is critical to the nation’s economic growth and development.”

The project was awarded to CCI, an Alaskan based company, who partnered with PolyEarth Construction International (U.S. based) and PND Engineers (U.S. based) to provide the construction using open cell technology. “These companies have a significant history of building similar work in both the northwestern United States and international locations,” Hynum said.

“The project includes about 370 meters of Open-Cell ® sheetpile. The award winning Open-Cell ® sheetpile system, designed by PND Engineers, includes a sheetpile seawall pier and a floating pier which will provide additional berths to support new ships ordered by the Iraqi Navy,” according to Sam Pelant, a representative with PolyEarth. “Both the sheetpile pier and floating pier will provide state-of-the-art lighting, water, electrical and fuel services for the new vessels.

"New utility services will be added to the pier facility including fuel, electrical and water,” Pelant said. “A new Operational Fuel Storage facility will be constructed to store 300,000 liters of ship fuel. Shore tie electrical service will be available for berthed vessels, as well as potable water. A security fence and concrete road will be constructed along the face of the pier and down the existing seawall for security and to allow access for service vehicles.”

Pelant said that there are two aspects of the project that he is particularly proud to point out. “First: we are very proud of our safety record,” Pelant said. “We’ve gone 427 days without a lost time accident. Considering the complexity of the project, I think that is an admirable achievement.

“The second is Larry Wilson the genius behind the program. We’ve taken a number of our better Iraqi welders and are working to get them American Welding Society (AWS) certified,” Pelant said. “We also have John Houser, a retired construction technologies teacher, mentoring a group of Iraqi construction workers in carpentry and concrete techniques like we do in the states.”

Pelant went on to explain that according to the terms of the contract, 25 percent of their workforce must be Iraqi. “We have superseded that with a total of 60 percent of the workforce being Iraqi,” Pelant said. “The more than 200 Iraqis working for us are completely integrated in all of the work that has taken place and we are very proud of them.”

As Iraq strives to build a secure, stable and self-governing nation, the USACE has completed hundreds of projects in the transportation and communication sector. Since 2004, the USACE has completed eight port projects throughout Iraq.

For high resolution photos: www.grd.usace.army.mil/news/releases/index.asp

Note: Alicia Embrey is a public affairs specialist with the Gulf Region South District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Iraq. For more information, contact 540-665-2656 or email requests to alicia.embrey@us.army.milThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . For more information on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq, visit www.grd.usace.army.mil.

The Gulf Region South District, headquartered in Tallil, is a joint effort comprising Civilians, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Contractors. GRS provides quality and sustainable engineering in support of civil/military construction in Iraq. GRS and its Iraqi partners are building a strong foundation for Iraq's future.

BUILDING STRONG® is the official slogan of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.