When Superstorm Sandy Struck: How Marine Construction Vessels Became Heroes of Coastal Recovery

When Hurricane Sandy devastated the Northeast coastline in October 2012, the aftermath revealed both the vulnerability of our coastal infrastructure and the critical importance of specialized marine construction vessels in rebuilding efforts. The storm’s immense size, coupled with its landfall during high tide, created a storm surge that devastated many coastal communities in New Jersey and New York, with preliminary U.S. damage estimates near $50 billion, making Sandy the second-costliest cyclone to hit the United States since 1900. The recovery that followed taught invaluable lessons about marine construction capabilities and the essential role these vessels play in restoring coastal resilience.

Immediate Response: Marine Vessels as First Responders

Within hours of Sandy’s departure, NOAA deployed research vessel Bay Hydro II to survey ship channels in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, speeding the resumption of shipping and naval operations, while NOAA’s navigation response teams provided essential information when ports needed to quickly but safely re-open in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. This rapid deployment demonstrated how marine construction support vessels serve as critical infrastructure lifelines during disaster recovery.

To assist FEMA, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) activated three of its ships to serve as “floating hotels” to berth and feed hundreds of emergency responders who traveled to the region from all over the country, with MARAD activating the school ship on October 31, just in time to provide berthing and meals for 288 emergency responders that first night. These vessels proved that marine construction support isn’t just about rebuilding—it’s about providing the foundation for recovery operations.

The Critical Role of Specialized Marine Construction Vessels

The Sandy recovery highlighted how specialized marine vessels are essential for coastal infrastructure rebuilding. Marine construction is the process of building structures in or adjacent to large bodies of water, usually the sea, with examples of marine structures including ships, offshore platforms, moorings, pipelines, cables, wharves, bridges, tunnels, breakwaters and docks. Companies like Miller Marine Services, based in Port Jefferson, Long Island, exemplify the expertise needed for such complex operations. Miller Marine Services specializes in providing a wide array of marine support services, including offshore wind farm development and torpedo recovery, catering to various industries with capabilities in geophysical surveys, marine construction, and environmental safety monitoring, while offering a fleet of specialized vessels for towing, salvage, and utility purposes.

For property owners and municipalities seeking reliable marine construction support vessels long island services, understanding the capabilities these companies bring to disaster recovery is crucial. The specialized equipment and expertise required for marine construction work becomes even more valuable during emergency situations when traditional land-based access may be compromised.

Lessons Learned: Building Back Better

Over the last decade, the City has taken many steps to rebuild the infrastructure that was destroyed in a more resilient manner, with lessons learned from these Sandy recovery and resiliency projects informing improvements to capital planning, design, and construction for future resiliency projects. The recovery process revealed several critical insights about marine construction vessel deployment:

• Rapid Assessment Capabilities: NOAA, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers used emergency supplemental funds provided by Congress to survey coastal waters and shorelines, using ships, aircraft, and satellites to measure water depths, look for submerged debris, and record altered shorelines.
• Multi-Purpose Vessel Utilization: The result was a novel and inventive use of MARAD vessels as floating dormitories and cafeterias.
• Coordination with Federal Agencies: NOAA’s navigation managers worked with the Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers to coordinate deployment of NOAA’s navigation response teams (NRT) for rapid maritime response.

Modern Marine Construction Capabilities

Today’s marine construction vessels are equipped with advanced technology that makes them more effective than ever. Commonly marine and offshore operations include towing, mooring, ballasting, lifting and lowering heavy loads, personnel transfer, surveying, inspection, and diving. These capabilities proved essential during Sandy recovery operations and continue to be vital for ongoing coastal resilience projects.

Bulkheads are another critical element in maritime construction, acting as barriers to prevent erosion and protect waterfront properties from waves and storms, with properly constructed bulkheads ensuring the stability and safety of coastal areas, safeguarding homes and businesses from damage. The construction and repair of such protective infrastructure requires specialized marine vessels capable of working in challenging coastal environments.

Economic Impact and Long-Term Recovery

The City has spent 92.4% of its total $4.2 billion HUD CDBG-DR allocation as of June 2022, with federal spending nearly complete across all program areas except for the Coastal Resiliency projects that together make up about 10% of the total CDBG-DR allocation. This massive investment underscores the economic importance of having capable marine construction vessels and experienced operators ready to respond to future disasters.

The recovery also demonstrated the value of local marine service providers. Companies with established operations and local knowledge, like those serving the Long Island area, proved invaluable during the extended recovery period. Their understanding of local conditions, regulatory requirements, and community needs enabled more efficient and effective rebuilding efforts.

Preparing for Future Challenges

As Sandy’s ten-year anniversary approaches, it is clear that more storms are coming, with the intensity and frequency of hurricanes increasing as the planet warms, and while there is no way to predict where and when the next coastal storm will hit New York, its likelihood has only increased. This reality makes the lessons learned from Sandy’s recovery more relevant than ever.

With climate change increasing the intensity of storms, investing in hurricane-resistant infrastructure is more important than ever, with aluminum dock solutions combining innovation and strength to meet this challenge. Marine construction vessels will continue to play a crucial role in implementing these resilient infrastructure solutions.

The Path Forward

The Hurricane Sandy recovery demonstrated that marine construction vessels are not just tools for routine maintenance and construction—they are essential components of our disaster response and recovery infrastructure. Staff from throughout the National Ocean Service are supporting the President’s Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Strategy by delivering coastal science, management, and operational expertise, with the National Ocean Service bringing a wealth of coastal science, management, and operational expertise to aid communities impacted by hurricanes in their recovery.

For coastal communities and property owners, the lessons are clear: establishing relationships with experienced marine construction service providers before disasters strike is essential. The specialized capabilities these vessels provide—from emergency response to long-term infrastructure rebuilding—make them indispensable partners in creating more resilient coastal communities.

As we face an uncertain climate future, the expertise and equipment provided by marine construction specialists will only become more valuable. The lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy’s recovery continue to guide how we prepare for, respond to, and recover from coastal disasters, with marine construction vessels serving as the backbone of these critical operations.