Pier Design vs. Operations: A Navy Perspective

The United States Navy (USN, Navy) maintains a large inventory of waterfront structures (e.g., piers, wharves, bulkheads, and moorings) spanning the globe. Their uses range from general berthing to mission specific operations. All require consideration of design requirements vs. operations. Significant costs are involved in construction and rehabilitation of piers. Design and operational requirements are constantly evolving. Parameters influencing pier design include code requirements, construction methodology, materials, site constraints, environmental conditions, vessel types, berthing operations, mission, and facility operations. General building codes do not broadly apply to waterfront structures because there are many unique requirements, conditions, constraints, and no uniform US pier design code. Because of the wide variety of considerations, pier design involves a regular give-and-take process. This paper explores pier design and code requirements vs. operations (from a US Navy perspective).