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Infrastructure renewal and engineering combine to pro- vide an obscure, often under-appreciated, but nevertheless critically important aspect of marine operations. In the Pa- ciÞ c Northwest, for example, the waterway abundant geog- raphy provides engineering and specialized moving compa- ny Omega Morgan with all sorts of challenges that involve bridges spanning rivers. Whether crossing or moving these spans, Omega Morgan, faces particularly unique engineer- ing challenges. Of particular interest to marine operators, bridge renewals involve potentially severe waterway delays and a marine component that affects all marine commerce. Minimizing waterway delays and downtime there is at the very heart of what Omega Morgan does every day. Omega Morgan started in the machinery moving and industrial contracting business in 1991, but the Þ rm ex- perienced its most rapid growth during the past six years, partly as a function of aging and critically deÞ cient infra- structure assets. Omega MorganÕs vice president of en- gineering, Ralph DiCaprio, is no stranger to these chal- lenges, having successfully engineered recent high proÞ le Northwest bridge moves including the Sauvie Island Bridge, the Sellwood Bridge and the Skagit River Bridge. His experience also involves managing the Third Avenue Bridge project in New York City, moving two 900-ton spans on the Hood Canal Bridge, the transport and launch of the Kalama River Bridge, as well as more than a dozen Utah bridge overpass moves. JACK & SLIDE: NEW NOMENCLATURE The jack and slide method of translating, or moving, Engineering Change Engineering Change on the Water on the Water Engineering Change Engineering Change on the Water on the Water West Coast-based Omega Morgan tackles marine infrastructure challenges with unique engineering solutions. By John McCalla, President and CEO, Omega MorganMARINE CONSTRUCTIONDecember 201344 MNMN Dec2013 Layout 32-49.indd 44MN Dec2013 Layout 32-49.indd 4411/25/2013 12:51:31 PM11/25/2013 12:51:31 PM
