Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded a more than $24 million contract Nov. 22 to RQ Construction, LLC of Carlsbad, California, for Wharf Bravo recapitalization at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"The current Wharf Bravo conditions limit the overall ship berthing capability here," said NS Guantanamo Bay Commanding Officer Capt. David Culpepper. "This project will dramatically improve the capacity of this strategically located U.S. base to support Navy, Coast Guard, and logistic support vessels well into the future, and better position the installation to respond to SOUTHCOM (U.S. Southern Command) contingency requirements."

The NS Guantanamo Bay port provides husbanding services to visiting operating forces of the U.S. Navy, other services, and forces of NATO. The port also supports counter-drug and counter-migrant operations in the Caribbean.

Wharf Bravo specifically supports and provides berthing for large visiting vessels and offloading operations for barges which deliver supplies to NS Guantanamo Bay.

"The original sheet pile shows widespread corrosion," said NS Guantanamo Bay Public Works Officer Cmdr. Jeffrey Richer. "Additionally, the concrete cap has numerous areas of spalling and several of the mooring foundations exhibit significant deterioration. If repairs are not performed, deterioration will continue to worsen at an accelerated rate, and could eventually lead to compromised mooring capabilities at the facility."

The award calls for repair and maintenance measures designed to promote long-term life and serviceability of Wharf Bravo, including repair of steel sheet pile, repair sections of spalled concrete -- concrete that has broken up, flaked, or become pitted -- replacement of steel fender framing, replacement of missing chains on the pneumatic camels, and cleaning and recoating and/or replacing deteriorated mooring fittings. The project includes installation of new steel sheet pile wall in order to create a single linear facility.

The project also includes soil stabilization to meet current site seismic requirements and will occur in the area behind the existing sheet pile wall.

The project is expected to be completed by September 2018.

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