Accelerated Freshwater Corrosion Protection & Remediation of Structures in Cold Regions

In the fall of 1998, during routine underwater investigations, it was discovered that the underwater steel dock and pier structures in the Duluth-Superior Harbor (DSH) were corroding at an accelerated rate, much greater than observed in other Great Lakes fresh water harbors and ports. Much of the port's over 13 miles of steel sheet pile walls, steel H and pipe piling, wood piling, wood cribs and Wakefield walls are now severely deteriorated. Holes in the steel as large as 10 inches or more in diameter and loss of large sections of wood dock structures have now been discovered. This deterioration and failures of critical port and harbor infrastructure have become a major concern to all stakeholders.