OCCI successfully undertook the complex installation of new ship arrestor machinery at the Poe Lock, a critical artery for U.S. bulk commodity transit. The project's scope involved constructing two insulated concrete form (ICF) machinery buildings during the summer, featuring a flat membrane roof system and architectural stone cladding. Concurrently, OCCI partnered with Arch Hydro to design and fabricate custom 45-ton ship arrestor winches engineered to protect the lock's vital miter gates from emergency ship impacts, integrating hydraulic actuation and electric control units. The entire demolition and installation had to be executed within the federally mandated 60-day winter lock outage (January 15th to March 15th). OCCI meticulously removed the aging equipment from the 60-foot-deep machinery pit, which was then filled with structural concrete. Working seven days a week to meet the tight deadline, the team installed the massive new winches and refurbished the existing 120-foot fender boom using linkage that included wire-arc additive manufactured components. This high-efficiency operation led to the successful commissioning and testing of the systems within the demanding timeframe.
