Project Overview
PND led concept development, final design, bid, and construction support services for the replacement of three new floating docks and one fully ADA-compliant fixed pier and access gangway in Depoe Bay Harbor, Oregon. The project required comprehensive environmental analysis, including metocean study to establish baseline design criteria for winds, waves, surge, and tsunami loading. The 2011 tsunami that damaged one of the harbor’s docks emphasized the critical importance of tsunami mitigation in the new design approach. PND reviewed existing geotechnical and background documents as part of the design development.
The design involved removing existing steel H-piles and timber floating docks and replacing them with a robust steel frame dock system, anchored with new steel pipe piles, engineered to withstand increased environmental and usage loads over a longer service life. The new floating docks provided a more efficient moorage layout while accommodating the same number of boats, and a new small fixed pier was designed to support the ADA ramp for commercial charters and recreational boat slip access. All docks feature new utility systems including electrical, water, and lighting infrastructure.
PND managed the complete permitting process, including development of a mitigation plan supported with detailed drawings, figures, and technical information. PND performed a hydraulics and hydrology study to measure sediment deposition rates from Depoe Creek, evaluating the existing check dam’s effects on fish species and dredging frequency requirements, as part of the project’s mitigation strategy.
The project was bid in Summer of 2023, with material procurement and manufacturing scheduled to allow on-site construction to begin in the Fall of 2024, through the Spring of 2025. PND provided comprehensive services from initial concept development through Construction Administration.
Our Role
- Structural Engineering: designed new steel frame floating docks and float piles, fixed pile supported approach dock, and ADA compliant aluminum gangway
- Contract Administration and Construction Support: provided extensive support to the City throughout the bid process, contract administration, fabrication and onsite construction support services
- Geotechnical Engineering: analyzed pile bearing capacity and pile driving criteria
- Waterfront Engineering: evaluated metocean criteria to establish design parameters, including a tsunami hazard analysis
Tsunami-Resistant Marine Facility Strengthens Oregon Harbor Operations
PND’s design for Depoe Bay Harbor focused on creating resilient marine infrastructure that could withstand Oregon’s challenging coastal environment while improving accessibility and operational efficiency. The replacement of aging timber docks with modern steel frame systems addressed both structural durability and enhanced environmental protection following lessons learned from the 2011 tsunami damage.
The upgraded facility delivered improved boat moorage efficiency while maintaining the harbor’s capacity, ensuring continued support for both commercial charter operations and recreational boating activities. The addition of full ADA compliance through the new fixed pier and access gangway significantly enhanced accessibility for all harbor users.
The successful implementation of this project strengthened Depoe Bay’s position as a vital coastal harbor by providing robust, long-lasting infrastructure designed to resist extreme weather events and tsunami forces. The enhanced facility supported the local maritime economy while ensuring safe, accessible operations for Oregon’s coastal community.
Acres
Depoe Bay is the world’s smallest natural navigable harbor
Slips
in the new Docks 2, 3, and 4 project including slips for commercial crab boats, fishing charters, and whale watching tour vessels
Feet/Second
design current velocity in the harbor due to storm surge from the Pacific Ocean
