This article is part of a series sponsored by the guarantor of the Old Republic.
Antarctica is one of the most remote and isolated places on Earth. According to the American Antarctic Plan, Antarctica has no permanent state, city or inhabitants, which is the coldest and windiest continent on Earth. Extreme weather conditions make the entire continent very challenging.
The average annual average annual temperature of the main station of McMurdo Station on the mainland of the United States is 0°F, with temperatures as high as 46°F in summer, temperatures as low as -58°F in winter, and an average wind of 12 knots. According to the National Science Foundation, the population of McMurdo Station is as high as 1,100 during the peak of summer and a drop of about 200 in the winter.
McMurdo Station has been a key hub for American Antarctic research since the 1950s, providing not only an essential supply to its own stations, but also an essential supply to Antarctic and Palmer stations on the African continent. However, McMurdo has long experienced logistical challenges through resupply. Historically, these efforts have relied on ice docks, but changing sea ice conditions have made the approach increasingly unreliable. Now, an important infrastructure project will make life and operation more efficient at McMurdo Station on the African continent – the Old Republic guarantor is providing bond support for this ambitious effort.
The National Science Foundation’s Antarctic Program works with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to oversee the development of McMurdo’s floating barge dock. according to Future USAPthis new structure will permanently be stationed in a small bay in the Winter Season Bay (Murdo Sound), making it more reliable than previous solutions.
Planning for the new floating barge began after an ice dock at the station failed in 2012. After failure, the Army Modular Causeway System (MCS) was introduced as a temporary solution. This is again used in the 2019-2020 and 2022-2023 seasons to ensure arrival at McMurdo and Antarctic stations. However, using MCS reduces available cargo space on the recharge container.
According to USAP, the newly designed barge dock will eliminate the need for backup measures such as MCS. The 100-foot x 328-foot dock will secure it in place using four stiff columns connected to the barge and land-based abutment connection. The two bridges will allow the continuous flow of trucks, trailers, loaders and other heavy equipment, thus simplifying supply operations. Designed for a lifespan of at least 20 years, The Barge Pier will provide McMurdo with a reliable offload system to ensure uninterrupted supply chain operations and enhance one of the most challenging environments on the planet.
Gunderson Marine and Iron, a contractor based in Portland, Oregon, was awarded a $44 million project. Old Republic Surety is providing performance and payment bonds required by Army Engineers. Performance margin guarantee will be built and delivered to the terminal according to the specifications of the contract, and payment margin guarantees all material suppliers and subcontractors to pay for their work. The terminal is expected to be completed in the fall of 2025. It will then be from Portland to Antarctica, which is expected to arrive at its permanent residence in February 2026.
As the barge heads south, we will continue to monitor progress. As this critical infrastructure improvement progresses, stay tuned for updates.
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