Vigor Shipyard 10-Year Programmatic Piling Replacement Project
Client: Vigor Shipyards
Overview of Floyd|Snider Contributions
Project Summary
Vigor Shipyards has operated on Harbor Island in Elliott Bay since the early 1900s. The 27-acre shipyard is one of the largest private shipyards in the nation, playing an important role in the maritime industry by offering new construction and repair for mid-sized to large vessels and routine services for fishing vessels, ferries, barges, and military ships.
Floyd|Snider has served as a lead consultant to Vigor since 2000. In 2019, Vigor began the capital improvement planning process to repair fender piles across the facility. In support of this effort, Floyd|Snider developed a programmatic permitting strategy and obtained all permits and regulatory authorizations for the work.
Vigor Shipyards has operated on Harbor Island in Elliott Bay since the early 1900s. The 27-acre shipyard is one of the largest private shipyards in the nation, playing an important role in the maritime industry by offering new construction and repair for mid-sized to large vessels and routine services for fishing vessels, ferries, barges, and military ships.
Floyd|Snider has served as a lead consultant to Vigor since 2000. In 2019, Vigor began the capital improvement planning process to repair fender piles across the facility. In support of this effort, Floyd|Snider developed a programmatic permitting strategy and obtained all permits and regulatory authorizations for the work.
Our Approach
Acknowledging the significant capital investment required to maintain nearshore infrastructure and the phasing that is needed to minimize impacts to shipyard operations from in-water construction, Floyd|Snider pursued programmatic authorizations for this repair and maintenance with a 10-year duration.
Project Milestones
2019. Permit applications submitted
2020–2021. Agency processing and regulatory negotiations
2022. Permits obtained with 10-year authorization
Acknowledging the significant capital investment required to maintain nearshore infrastructure and the phasing that is needed to minimize impacts to shipyard operations from in-water construction, Floyd|Snider pursued programmatic authorizations for this repair and maintenance with a 10-year duration. This would increase flexibility for project implementation and allow Vigor Shipyards to complete infrastructure repair as capital funding became available—in phases, over time. Floyd Snider prepared the comprehensive permit applications and obtained all authorizations from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Department of Ecology, and the City of Seattle. This repair and maintenance project was processed as part of the initial batch under the Salish Sea Nearshore Programmatic Biological Opinion and associated habitat conservation calculator. Floyd|Snider demonstrated that removal of existing creosote-treated piling and other anthropogenic debris would offset the project impact. Floyd|Snider has been supporting clients in successful outcomes under this new consultation pathway since its inception.
Project Milestones
2019. Permit applications submitted
2020–2021. Agency processing and regulatory negotiations
2022. Permits obtained with 10-year authorization