Major infrastructure projects require more than engineering expertise. They require long-term vision, collaboration, and a commitment to navigating challenges as projects evolve.
At the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, CEC has spent the last five years helping deliver exactly that, supporting the ongoing expansion of one of the Northeast’s most significant marine infrastructure assets.
Working for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and alongside project partner Foth, CEC has contributed civil engineering, environmental, geotechnical, surveying, permitting, and construction support services to multiple phases of terminal development. McAllister Marine Engineering rounds out the engineering team by serving as a marine engineering expert and special advisor to MassCEC.
As terminal operations continue to grow and adapt to changing industry needs, CEC remains an integral member of the team helping prepare the facility for the future.
A Partnership Built for the Long Haul
CEC’s involvement with the terminal expansion began in late 2021 and has continued through multiple project phases, ranging from site expansion and environmental remediation to ongoing infrastructure improvements.
What started as an expansion effort has developed into a long-term partnership built on trust and collaboration. Senior management at all three engineering firms involved had years of experience working together before the project started, so the firms were well positioned to cooperatively navigate the challenges of a complex and dynamic project.
“We’re five years in and we probably have years of work ahead of us” says Jon Kitchen, PG, LSP, Vice President and CEC’s Boston-area Operations Lead.
The terminal’s owners are planning well into the future, and CEC’s team continues to support the strategic improvements needed to accommodate evolving operational demands. While offshore wind originally drove much of the terminal’s growth, the facility’s importance extends beyond any single industry.
“It’s really going to be a terminal no matter what. The use may change, but it’s going to remain a critical marine facility,” Kitchen explains.
In addition to supporting large scale deployment for offshore wind projects, the terminal’s multi-purpose design allows the facility to serve as a gateway for bulk, break-bulk, and large specialty marine cargos.
That long-term outlook has allowed CEC to help guide planning and design solutions that support both current operations and future opportunities.
A Multidisciplinary Team Delivering Comprehensive Solutions
The scope of work at the marine terminal requires expertise from across CEC’s practice areas and office locations. Throughout the project, professionals from civil engineering, environmental services, geotechnical engineering, surveying, and transportation disciplines have contributed to the effort.
According to Project Manager Cassia Dal Bello, the work showcases the value of bringing multiple technical experts together under one team.
“At our Boston offices we had four practices involved: survey, civil, environmental, and geotechnical,” Dal Bello says. “Collectively, there have probably been 15 to 20 people, if not more, who have worked on this project over the last five years.”
The CEC/Foth team led the design of several parcel expansions and continues to provide environmental compliance and construction support services as new phases move forward. The firm’s role has included civil & geotechnical design, stormwater management, environmental remediation, permitting, and construction oversight.
“We executed the design across multiple expansion parcels, including the civil & geotechnical design, stormwater management systems, and environmental remediation plans,” Dal Bello explains. “We’re helping the client navigate the technical and regulatory requirements while working toward their long-term goals.”
Managing Complexity on an Active Working Waterfront
One of the most unique aspects of the project is that construction has taken place while terminal operations continue. The site remains an active marine facility, creating a dynamic environment that requires constant communication among owners, tenants, contractors, engineers, regulators, and neighboring businesses.
“There’s a lot of coordination,” Dal Bello says. “Every role involved has high importance to make sure the work goes smoothly.”
Kitchen noted that the team’s responsibilities extend beyond engineering design.
“We’re coordinating with the client, engineers, stakeholders, tenants, and neighbors while construction is happening,” he says. “It’s an active terminal in the middle of a city, so every decision has to account for ongoing operations and surrounding businesses.”
That level of coordination has become one of the project’s defining characteristics. Whether supporting environmental compliance, overseeing construction activities, or helping prepare future development phases, CEC’s team continues to deliver solutions that keep the project moving forward while minimizing disruptions.
As future phases move forward, CEC is proud to continue supporting a project that brings together engineering, environmental stewardship, and strategic planning to strengthen critical marine infrastructure. Through its work on the terminal, CEC is helping build a foundation for long-term growth while delivering solutions that benefit clients, communities, and the region’s working waterfront.
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