LOGISTICS PERSPECTIVE

be brought in out of the weather, cargo pickups may be expedited, cranes and other equipment get secured,” Dibble said.

Port construction projects are a special concern and site-specific risk management plans are activated. They might include securing and safeguarding structures and equipment, or removing equipment and materials where possible. Construction chemicals, paints and fuels get extra attention to ensure they don’t end up in the ground or in waterways.

“The focus of our contingency planning is a combination of customer and carrier support, our network of carriers providing a wide array of equipment types, realtime tracking and onsite solutions,” Kerrigan said. Individualized, comprehensive contingency planning with each customer ensures loads reach their destinations.

“Once we determine the proper equipment necessary for transport from point A to point B, we identify qualified and trusted carriers for each job. Through the power of proprietary technology, we can optimize lane data to identify the best available routes,” Kerrigan said.

Last year, Bechtel joined a global alliance to advise on infrastructure resilience and urban preparedness and protect communities from extreme heat.

As the only engineering, procurement and construction partner in the D.C.-based Extreme Heat Alliance, Bechtel will “use its experience of designing resilience standards; developing guidelines supporting climate-proof construction standards; performing cost-benefit analyses of innovations that can make infrastructure more resilient; and collaborating with regional institutions to make existing infrastructure more robust and efficient to support projects that protect communities from extreme heat,” according to a company statement.

WHEN, NOT IF, IN US SOUTHEAST

Like EPCs, ports have a great deal of extreme weather expertise. Cory Dibble is director of public safety and security at Port Canaveral. He described a robust heavy weather plan that incorporates Coast Guard conditions alerts, best forecasts available, informed decision-making, collaborative resources and some hard-earned insights from lessons learned throughout the region.

“We work collaboratively to ensure there are no gaps in preparedness. Security, safety and resiliency are priorities. And then we focus on returning to operation as quickly as possible after the storm,” Dibble said.

When a tropical weather system is approaching, each port department and partner has a checklist. “Port Canaveral is not a safe haven. The Coast Guard sends vessels over 500 gross tons out to sea. The Port’s response and recovery assets, such as inspection vessels, are pre-positioned in nearby waterways. There is a lot of coordination with tenants – terminals and yards get cleaned up, landed cargo is secured and may

Perhaps the most important element of Port Canaveral’s extreme weather management is communications with staff, tenants and other port stakeholders, and emergency management support, Dibble said. Fortunately, “ports now have representation in the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s State Watch office. We can reach them, and have a single point of contact,” to relay and receive information statewide. This is a recent development spurred by issues such as energy shortages faced five years ago with Hurricane Irma.

Working Ahead Vital

Advance planning is key to good coordination. The Coast Guard closes the port, personnel are sent home (with the exception of Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and Canaveral Fire Rescue teams who ride out the storm at the Port if it is Category 3 or below). The Port’s response teams do an immediate post-storm life/safety assessment (looking for dangers like downed power lines and flooding), then select teams of Canaveral Port Authority staff, tenants, and emergency contractors are recalled to do a port-wide damage assessment. Eventually all other staff and personnel are recalled.

“Our best practice is prepositioning assets. We are proactive, not reactive. The sooner a vessel is in the water to survey the port to check for navigational issues, the sooner the Coast Guard can reopen the port – in hours instead of days. That’s the number one goal,” Dibble said. Usually the waterways are opened with restrictions at first. It takes time to assess all impacts. At the same time, teams are out to ensure roadways, bridges and facilities are clear and safe to get port operations moving again.