Morgan Creek Harbor Association
Bulkhead Project Update:
Hello MCHA Homeowners,
We have made progress since approving the bulkhead renewal project earlier this year. Here are some of the highlights:
- We have a signed contract with Southern Cathodic Protection (SPC)
- We have closed on our funding line of credit with Southern First bank
- We hired an electrical engineering firm (Johnny Deden, Charleston Engineering) to do the design work on Rectifier locations and connection to the Dominion transformers
- We have contracted with the electrical contractor that will perform all the electrical work (Jay Adams, Feyen Zylstra)
- We have completed all cathodic testing to finalize the electrical design. The results are such that we will be able to completely eliminate the 30 deep wells to be replace by a current linear distributed anode system with anodes positioned in 5 feet behind the wall about 3 feet underground to protect the backside (landside) of the bulkhead and a linear anode system along the front of the wall (waterside) on the bottom of the creek. This system will have no negative impact on yard esthestics. All this testing and design iteration has taken a few months but is critical for us to get the required performance to protect the bulkhead for the next 20+ years.
- Due to supply chain issues, we were not able to purchase the required volumes of Coal Tar epoxy and began an in-depth investigation on current state of the art marine coating systems. We hired a NASE level III certified coating expert (Steve Williams, Coating Expert) to use the US Navy’s UFGS specification for coating of steel waterfront structures (Section 09 97 13.26). There are three available coatings that meet this specification. We have chosen a 100% solids epoxy made by Phillips called TZ-904. This also has taken a few months but is a very high-performance coating system that meets the 20+ year coating life requirement.
- The original coating application company was not interested in working with our new coating system, so we began the process to select a new application company certified in this coating system. We are currently negotiating with two coating companies, PMI and Blastco both out of Texas. Blastco was the company that coated the Port of Houston bulkhead in 2006 which members of our construction team (Caleb Wright, P.E. and Steve Williams, Coating Expert) inspected in person to evaluate actual application factors and present condition after 16 years of weather exposure and wear and tear.
- Green Carolina has been selected to clear the 10-foot path (tree and shrub removal) along the bulkhead, so the contractors have the required work access, dig the trenches and boring for the electrical cables and restore the landscaping after work is complete.
- We expect the cathodic system installation to begin in November. Project is about 3 months behind original schedule.
- Financial Update: $3,675,400 has been paid in full, $3,361,600 will be financed
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