For Pacific Maritime Group, as with other marine construction firms, “Infrastructure Week” is not a joke; it is this week, last week and weeks to come. Infrastructure is a catch-all for roads, water, electricity, bridges, communications and so much more. Think of it as the field, level and open, where you can bring your stuff for work or play.
To keep the field usable requires some behind the scenes work. Recently PMG supported American Marine Corporation (AMC) as they did some underwater work for LADWP (Los Angeles Department of Water and Power) near Pacific Palisades. The LADWP, as part of their many duties, is responsible for the safe, efficient and ecologically sound handling of waters discharged into the Pacific Ocean from the miles of pipes and drains they maintain. To work offshore, underwater is the epitome of working behind the scenes.
American Marine Corporation contracted PMG to provide a derrick barge and tugs to assist with the removal of concrete vaults measuring 11’ x 7’ and weighing in at 25,000 lbs each. These vaults have outlived their usefulness and to maintain a clean ocean, slated for removal.
AMC divers rigged the utility vaults at a depth of approximately 100’. At their direction the vaults were lifted to the surface. Twenty-four vaults were raised in a job that took six days. We are proud to report that the task was completed safely and with minimum fuss. The Pacific Coast Highway runs close by the work site and our work affected traffic not at all. Likely many drivers didn’t notice the PMG tug or PMG’s Crane Barge PTS 270. We were just part of the quiet infrastructure, like the road they drove upon. At PMG, we are fine with that.