Port at Gulfport

The Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport announced that Joseph O. Conn, P.E. is its new Director of Disaster Recovery. Conn will oversee the Port of Gulfport’s Restoration Program.

Conn, a licensed professional engineer, has more than 30 years of experience in project management and construction, primarily with large military programs. From 1994-2009 he worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville Center, as the Lead Project Manager for the Russian Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility (RCWDF). The RCWDF was a $1.039 billion project located in Western Siberia, Russia. Conn divided his time as the project manager in Huntsville, Alabama and the on-site manager in Russia.

Prior to his sojourn in Russia, Conn worked for the Corps of Engineers as both an active duty officer and a civilian employee. During this time, he had project oversight for several multi-million dollar military construction projects. In addition to working in Huntsville, Conn has worked in the Federal Republic of Germany, Saudi Arabia, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, and Utah. In 2004, he formed Conn Engineering, Inc., which provided project management services to the Corps’ Huntsville Center as well as other companies.

“Joe has extensive experience in completing long-term, multi-million dollars projects that involve multiple agencies and government entities,” said Don Allee, Executive Director and CEO of the Mississippi State Port Authority. “The Board of Commissioners and I are confident that he will guide the Port’s restoration efficiently and effectively.”

“I’m excited about this opportunity to help restore the Port at Gulfport,” said Conn. “We have a comprehensive plan for re-building the Port in a manner that will offer protection from storms to the community, create more jobs and add more revenue to the local economy.”

Conn added, “We want to lay a strong foundation so that the Port becomes the economic engine of the future for Mississippi.”

Operations for Chiquita Brands International, Inc., a major importer of bananas, have returned to the Port of Gulfport’s West Pier, Berth 1.

On September 2, Chiquita’s vessel, the 666-foot long EUROS LISBON, docked at Berth 1 on the West Pier, marking the first time in more than four years that the docking space was available for use. Chiquita relocated its operations to other areas within the Port of Gulfport after Hurricane Katrina heavily damaged the company’s west pier berth.

Tony Caranna, Chiquita’s operations manager for the Gulf of Mexico, said the company’s return to Berth 1 would result in more efficient operations. The restored berths can support up to 1,000 pounds per square foot, while the previous berths, which were constructed in the 1950s, could only handle weights of 400 to 500 pounds per square foot.

“This is a major milestone in our restoration process,” said Don Allee, executive director and CEO of the Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport. During the $51 million rebuilding project at the West Pier, two docking berths have been fully restored, and restoration work on a third berth should be completed in 2010.

Allee noted that bananas account for 74% of the total annual imported freight into the Port of Gulfport.

In the fall of 2008, the Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport approved a revised master plan to rebuild and restore the damage to its facilities. By implementing this vision plan the MSPA intends to offer protection to the community, the Port, and its tenants from future storms; to restore the Port to its competitive position in the maritime marketplace; and provide hundreds of new jobs to the area.

Earlier this year, the MSPA began efforts to define its vision plan by initiating the procurement process for engineering and contracting services. In the first round of the procurement process, five of six contracts were awarded to Mississippi companies, which include:

Aerial Survey and Mapping - Optimal Geomatics, Inc.
General Engineering Services - Neel Schaffer, Inc.
Geotechnical Site Investigation and Engineering - Thompson Engineering
Construction Material Testing Services - Quality Engineering Services, Inc.
Utility and Underground Surveying - Mississippi Engineering Group
Construction Management Services - Yates Anderson Construction Management

The MSPA is currently reviewing submissions for Financial Services and Environmental Services, the two solicitations available during the second round of procurement, which closed on September 8, 2009.

The third round of procurement is underway with a solicitation for Coastal Engineering Design and Services. All proposals must be received in the MSPA office by Friday, October 9, 2009 at 10 a.m. Central time. Companies interested in submitting proposals for this engineering service can obtain the solicitation from the MSPA Engineering Department by calling 228-865-4300 or writing 2510 14th Street, Suite 1450, Gulfport, Mississippi 39501.

Information related to this solicitation - PowerPoint presentation; questions and answers document; list of companies requesting copies of the RFQ - is available on the Procurement page of portofthefuture.com.

The MSPA expects to have additional procurement opportunities for the restoration program available within the next few weeks; information about these procurement opportunities will be posted on portofthefuture.com and shipmspa.com.

At a recent meeting of the MSPA Board of Commissioners, attorney William W. Dreher, Jr. outlined the needs of Gulfport shrimpers who want to return to docking space in the Port of Gulfport.

The attorney for the MSPA Board of Commissioners, Gulfport lawyer Ben Stone, responded, expressing understanding for the shrimpers’ needs. Stone also said that the Port is in the early stages of implementing its long-term vision plan for restoration and cannot make piecemeal decisions that may be inconsistent with the development.

After the meeting, Don Allee, the Port’s executive director and CEO, noted that the Port’s vision plan did not rule out the shrimpers return, but that the realization of the vision plan will take time.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with the shrimping community and local officials to find the solution that best benefits the shrimpers, the community, the Port’s tenants, and Port operations,” Allee said.

Allee noted that the Port’s priority must remain with rebuilding in a manner that offers storm protection. He said this task is time sensitive, relating directly to the entire community’s public safety as well as the Port’s economic viability.

Since July, when the Port commemorated the beginning of its 60-acre fill construction project, 296,329 cubic yards of sand have been delivered to the West Pier for use in the Port's restoration efforts.

MSPA Welcomes New Director of Disaster Recovery

Chiquita Returns to Port’s West Pier Berth

Engineering the Restoration for the Port at Gulfport

Port Commissioners Listen to Shrimpers

Construction Progress Report


MSPA Welcomes New Director of Disaster Recovery The Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport announced that Joseph O. Conn, P.E. is its new Director of Disaster Recovery. Conn will oversee the Port of Gulfport’s Restoration Program. Conn, a licensed professional engineer, has more than 30 years of experience in project management and construction, primarily with large military programs. From 1994-2009 he worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville Center, as the Lead Project Manager for the Russian Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility (RCWDF). The RCWDF was a $1.039 billion project located in Western Siberia, Russia. Conn divided his time as the project manager in Huntsville, Alabama and the on-site manager in Russia. Prior to his sojourn in Russia, Conn worked for the Corps of Engineers as both an active duty officer and a civilian employee. During this time, he had project oversight for several multi-million dollar military construction projects. In addition to working in Huntsville, Conn has worked in the Federal Republic of Germany, Saudi Arabia, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, and Utah. In 2004, he formed Conn Engineering, Inc., which provided project management services to the Corps’ Huntsville Center as well as other companies. “Joe has extensive experience in completing long-term, multi-million dollars projects that involve multiple agencies and government entities,” said Don Allee, Executive Director and CEO of the Mississippi State Port Authority. “The Board of Commissioners and I are confident that he will guide the Port’s restoration efficiently and effectively.” “I’m excited about this opportunity to help restore the Port at Gulfport,” said Conn. “We have a comprehensive plan for re-building the Port in a manner that will offer protection from storms to the community, create more jobs and add more revenue to the local economy.” Conn added, “We want to lay a strong foundation so that the Port becomes the economic engine of the future for Mississippi.” Chiquita Returns to Port’s West Pier Berth Operations for Chiquita Brands International, Inc., a major importer of bananas, have returned to the Port of Gulfport’s West Pier, Berth 1. On September 2, Chiquita’s vessel, the 666-foot long EUROS LISBON, docked at Berth 1 on the West Pier, marking the first time in more than four years that the docking space was available for use. Chiquita relocated its operations to other areas within the Port of Gulfport after Hurricane Katrina heavily damaged the company’s west pier berth. Tony Caranna, Chiquita’s operations manager for the Gulf of Mexico, said the company’s return to Berth 1 would result in more efficient operations. The restored berths can support up to 1,000 pounds per square foot, while the previous berths, which were constructed in the 1950s, could only handle weights of 400 to 500 pounds per square foot. “This is a major milestone in our restoration process,” said Don Allee, executive director and CEO of the Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport. During the $51 million rebuilding project at the West Pier, two docking berths have been fully restored, and restoration work on a third berth should be completed in 2010. Allee noted that bananas account for 74% of the total annual imported freight into the Port of Gulfport. Engineering the Restoration for the Port at Gulfport In the fall of 2008, the Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport approved a revised master plan to rebuild and restore the damage to its facilities. By implementing this vision plan the MSPA intends to offer protection to the community, the Port, and its tenants from future storms; to restore the Port to its competitive position in the maritime marketplace; and provide hundreds of new jobs to the area. Earlier this year, the MSPA began efforts to define its vision plan by initiating the procurement process for engineering and contracting services. In the first round of the procurement process, five of six contracts were awarded to Mississippi companies, which include: Aerial Survey and Mapping - Optimal Geomatics, Inc. General Engineering Services - Neel Schaffer, Inc. Geotechnical Site Investigation and Engineering - Thompson Engineering Construction Material Testing Services - Quality Engineering Services, Inc. Utility and Underground Surveying - Mississippi Engineering Group Construction Management Services - Yates Anderson Construction Management The MSPA is currently reviewing submissions for Financial Services and Environmental Services, the two solicitations available during the second round of procurement, which closed on September 8, 2009. The third round of procurement is underway with a solicitation for Coastal Engineering Design and Services. All proposals must be received in the MSPA office by Friday, October 9, 2009 at 10 a.m. Central time. Companies interested in submitting proposals for this engineering service can obtain the solicitation from the MSPA Engineering Department by calling 228-865-4300 or writing 2510 14th Street, Suite 1450, Gulfport, Mississippi 39501. Information related to this solicitation - PowerPoint presentation; questions and answers document; list of companies requesting copies of the RFQ - is available on the Procurement page of portofthefuture.com. The MSPA expects to have additional procurement opportunities for the restoration program available within the next few weeks; information about these procurement opportunities will be posted on portofthefuture.com and shipmspa.com. Port Commissioners Listen to Shrimpers At a recent meeting of the MSPA Board of Commissioners, attorney William W. Dreher, Jr. outlined the needs of Gulfport shrimpers who want to return to docking space in the Port of Gulfport. The attorney for the MSPA Board of Commissioners, Gulfport lawyer Ben Stone, responded, expressing understanding for the shrimpers’ needs. Stone also said that the Port is in the early stages of implementing its long-term vision plan for restoration and cannot make piecemeal decisions that may be inconsistent with the development. After the meeting, Don Allee, the Port’s executive director and CEO, noted that the Port’s vision plan did not rule out the shrimpers return, but that the realization of the vision plan will take time. “We welcome the opportunity to work with the shrimping community and local officials to find the solution that best benefits the shrimpers, the community, the Port’s tenants, and Port operations,” Allee said. Allee noted that the Port’s priority must remain with rebuilding in a manner that offers storm protection. He said this task is time sensitive, relating directly to the entire community’s public safety as well as the Port’s economic viability. Construction Progress Report Since July, when the Port commemorated the beginning of its 60-acre fill construction project, 296,329 cubic yards of sand have been delivered to the West Pier for use in the Port's restoration efforts.	Home Send Us Your Thoughts Request a Speaker Facts About Revitalization FAQs