With the president of a leading cruise line committing to going green, offering shore power became essential for places like Pier 66. The purpose? For cruise ships to switch off their engines while docking and use electricity instead, conserving fuel and reducing emissions. This change would lead to cleaner air for Seattle and other ports adopting the same practice.

Procuring a Power Source for Pier 66

Pier 66 lacked a power source at that time, so the Port of Seattle began procuring one. The solution involved laying submarine cable on the seabed alongside Seattle's shore, linking Pier 66 to renewable energy from Seattle City Light. Here's how we did it.

TAMPA, FL (June 26, 2024) — The Western Dredging Association (WEDA) has honored J.F. Brennan Company (Brennan) and GEI Consultants with a 2024 Safety Excellence Award for their work on the Third Ward Milwaukee River remediation project. GEI and Brennan accepted the award at WEDA’s Annual Dredging Summit and Expo in Tampa, Florida.

WEDA’s Safety Excellence Award recognizes individual organizations or project teams for exceptional safety performance and for exhibiting a proactive approach to raising safety awareness in the dredging workplace.

J.F. Brennan Company, Inc. (Brennan) overcame significant design challenges to complete a dredging project that involved hydraulically pumping slurry over a long distance of 10.4 miles. Brennan employees designed the dredging system and executed the entire project using Brennan-owned pipeline and equipment. 

Nuclear diving demands unwavering safety measures. Every action, from meticulous planning to employing advanced technology, prioritizes the divers' well-being. While water offers a natural shield against radiation, divers operate in a realm where the invisible poses the greatest threat. Dive deeper with us as we answer questions about the intricacies of nuclear diving, where safety protocols are paramount both in and outside the water.

We were contracted to replace flashboards and perform apron scour repairs at a hydroelectric dam along the Rock River in the Upper Midwest. Our client is a privately owned entity that owns and operates 80+ hydroelectric facilities throughout the United States.

The project’s significant goals involved increasing the dam’s retainage capacity, protecting the existing spillway structure, and providing an aesthetically pleasing spillway for the community's residents. This project was scheduled for the summer months when flow rates are at their lowest, mainly due to the volatility of the Rock River and the need for a slow-moving current to keep our divers safe. 

We're at Minnesota Power's hydroelectric dam in Scanlon, Minnesota, to replace 7 of the structure's Tainter gates. Extending the life of this renewable energy source by 50 to 100 years, the Scanlon Dam Gate Replacement Project enables the further creation of clean, renewable power provided to local communities. 

We were pulled into the project very early on during the design phase of the project. Both Brennan and Minnesota Power attribute the project's success to early contractor involvement.

We are at the Lock and Dam 19 facility in Keokuk, Iowa, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Our team replaced an 18,000-LB, 105-FT underwater soundbar with wet-mateable connections (cables and speakers that can be connected and disconnected underwater). This underwater acoustic deterrent system (UADS) upgrade allows divers to replace individual speakers if underperforming rather than continuing to remove the entire system.

Why? The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is spearheading a 3-year study to reduce the number of invasive carp moving toward the Great Lakes. It is the only study on the Mississippi River evaluating a deterrent for invasive carp. 

J.F. Brennan Company (Brennan) is honored to accept this year's award for Outstanding Philanthropic Organization from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Upper Mississippi Valley Chapter. The chapter represents nonprofit organizations throughout Southwestern Wisconsin, Northern Iowa, and Southeastern Minnesota.

Brennan’s work brings us all incredible pride and purpose as we serve clients throughout the inland and purpose as we serve clients throughout the inland and coastal waterways. Through this work, we receive opportunities to truly become part of the fabric of the communities in which we operate by giving back." says Chief Operating Officer Mike Binsfeld. 

Our equipment safely navigates where barges can’t float and where ground equipment can’t trek. Brennan’s specialty amphibious trucks can float fully loaded with a 20-cubic yard payload or be configured to support geotechnical drilling equipment. See our equipment in action with this video! 

J.F. Brennan Company (Brennan) collaborated with The Boys & Girls Club of Greater La Crosse (Boys & Girls Club), Wieser Brothers General Contractor, Inc., and Mathy Construction to bring the expansive construction world to Boys & Girls Club members. The annual event is called Kids in Construction.

Club members explored Brennan’s amphibious equipment and commercial dive gear, tested out life as a chemist working in a water treatment lab, and experienced a career working in a support role in the construction industry. Our Brennan team members were on hand to answer all their questions and share more about the exciting world of construction. In this video, Boys & Girls Club CEO Jake Erickson shares his views on Brennan and the benefits of Kids In Construction.