Yerba Buena Engineering and Construction Completes Breakwater Modifications Project

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Yerba Buena Engineering and Construction Inc. (YBEC), an AGC of California member based in San Francisco, recently announced the completion of the Oyster Point Marina Breakwater Modifications project in South San Francisco. YBEC served as lead construction firm on the floating breakwater project, which was contracted by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE), South Pacific Division, San Francisco District.

Oyster Point Marina is a popular, highly-active recreational and commercial marina with 455 slips, a boat launching ramp, a 300-ft. fishing pier, a fuel dock, and a small boat marine sales and service center, as well as picnic areas, jogging trails, hotels, restaurants and business offices. While the older, concrete breakwater entrance of the Oyster Park Point Marina had been previously reconfigured to accommodate new ferry service, the widening of the entrance had also allowed more wave action in the marina. YBEC installed floating docks and breakwaters as wave attenuators at the end of each dock to protect boats from damage. The lengths of the docks remained the same, although some slips were lost.

"We are honored to have been the prime contractor on this complex and important project,"said Miguel Galarza, project construction manager and YBEC president, who has close to30 years construction experience throughout the Bay Area. "YBEC's role was to determine and oversee every aspect of the project, which included furnishing all labor, materials, tools, and equipment to complete the work. The Oyster Point Inner Harbor now has a new, in-basin floating breakwater system that protects it from excess wave agitation and increases visibility and safety for watercraft entering the harbor."

The Oyster Point Marina Breakwater Modifications project involved the phased demolition and reconstruction of Docks 11, 12, 13, and 14, including: the floating demolition and removal of existing docks; removal of existing concrete guide piles; relocation of the docks; re-installation of concrete guide piles; removal and relocation of all utilities on the docks; design, fabrication and installation of floating breakwater docks; design, fabrication and installation of finger docks; and providing new concrete guide piles. YBEC completed the $2.6 million project in just eight months, mobilizing a month prior to delivery of the new docks to cut and demolish the existing docks and prepare to receive the new materials. In spite of the short timeframe, the environmental and sustainability goals of the project were considered a priority.

Demolition and construction work was also performed during the summer-fall months in order to protect certain fish species common to the harbor during the winter-spring seasons. The special schedule also allowed YBEC to avoid wave impacts and maintenance delays by taking advantage of smaller wave climate, lower chances of precipitation, and longer daylight hours.

About Yerba Buena Engineering and Construction
Yerba Buena Engineering and Construction (YBEC) is a HUBZone and Small Disadvantaged (SDB) firm based in San Francisco. Established in 2002, YBEC specializes in concrete, road, pipeline and infrastructure projects. During the last eleven years, YBEC has developed long-term relationships with the National Park Service as well as the US Navy, US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), US Air Force, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), General Services Administration (GSA) and numerous local city agencies. For more information, visit www.yerba-buena.net.