Work is underway on a multipurpose cargo berth project at Port Canaveral that also will accommodate facilities for the growing commercial space industry.
Scheduled for completion in mid-2019, North Cargo Berth 8 (NCB8) on the port’s north side will provide the infrastructure and capabilities to handle a growing portfolio of heavy and oversized cargo, including commercial spacecraft components for such companies as SpaceX. NCB8 is designed and engineered as a multimodal/intermodal berth that will provide flexible capacity and capability to accommodate more diverse commerce at the port.
“With the port experiencing unprecedented demand for bulkhead space, coupled with rapid economic growth in Central Florida and a burgeoning commercial space industry right here on the Space Coast, North Cargo Berth 8 will ensure we have the ability to meet the increased demand for diversified cargo-handling capabilities, while keeping us well-positioned for the future,” Port CEO Captain John Murray stated.
Crews from Orion Marine Group of Tampa, Fla., currently are installing 413 concrete relieving piles, each about 90 feet long. Once the piles have been placed, construction will start on a seawall with a concrete cap.
The 900-foot seawall and planned 100-foot pier extension will be capable of handling an 850-foot ship. NCB8 will be constructed with a 2,000 lbs.-per-square-foot capacity, a necessary requirement for handling aerospace cargo and other heavy project cargo. The berth will be dredged to a depth of -35 ft (MLLW).
Orion Marine Group was awarded a $17.9 million-dollar contract earlier this year for construction of the bulkhead, seawall, relieving platform and dredging after the Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners unanimously approved construction of NCB8 in January. Site work began in March.