NYC Pier 11 Ferry Landing: Designing Monopiles That Last

Ferry landings are waterfront structures that are under continual service and thus require regular maintenance to keep the facilities running smoothly. Occasionally, facilities experience conditions that place stress on their systems exceeding their intended design resulting in the need for premature replacement. Engineering analysis determined that the failures of two monopiles at a ferry terminal in the East River were caused by overstress due to ferry impact forces imparted by current ferry vessels being larger than the design vessels. This paper investigates the inspection, analysis, design, and construction of replacement monopile fenders while minimizing impacts on active ferry operations and working within the constraints of regulatory permit requirements in New York City.