“When using composite piles or vinyl
piles, it is critical to have a clear
understanding of your soils and what
is in your driving line.”
1 (314) 869-8600 | www.MVE-STL.com
INTRODUCING THE NEW MKT V-8Esc
• Up to 80 Tons of Driving Force
• Standard and High Frequency
Setting Capabilities
• Operates from Wireless Remote
EQUIPMENT
• Excavator Mount – Side Clamp
Vibratory Drivers / Extractors •
Excavator Lead Systems
• Crane Hung Hydraulic Vibratory Drivers
/ Extractors • Hydraulic Auger Systems
• Hydraulic Impact Hammers • Diesel
Hammers • Air Hammers CZM Drill Rigs
SERVICES
• Knowledgeable equipment
applications support • 24/7 parts and
service support
• Custom design and fabrication
CMI UC-95 composite sheet pile to protect
the new Riverfront Park from the waters of
the Halifax River.
Peter Kolb, vice president of operations
at Poseidon, said the biggest challenge of
installing the new seawall was making
sure the embed elevation was completely
clear of debris.
“Unlike steel sheet piles, the composite
pile will bounce off any obstruction or
stone and is unable to cut through,” he
said. “Poseidon excavated the entire sheet
pile line to make sure it was clear of any
debris from the existing wall.”
The crew also had to select a
lightweight hammer, one that still had the
power to drive the 28-foot-long composite
sheets to the embed elevation. Kolb says
larger vibratory hammers could break
the composite sheet pile when clamped
on. The perfect solution turned out to
be the MKT V-5 hydraulic vibratory pile
driver in conjunction with an American
579 Crawler Crane. No leads were used for
this project, according to Kolb.
In addition to driving the composite
sheet pile, Poseidon installed two Florida
Department of Transportation (FDOT)
concrete piles (12-inch diameter and
50-foot length) at each of the 11 outfall
locations for the project. To accomplish
this task, Poseidon used a Pile Master
36-5000 air hammer and the American
crawler crane to drive the concrete piles
to the proper embed elevation.
“The overall success of the project
lands on the shoulders of the field crew,”
said Kolb. “Without good leadership,
even the best worker can become idle.
We took our time recruiting the right
candidate to lead this field crew. We
were fortunate to find a well experienced
and hard-working superintendent in Joe
Tennant. Joe’s relentless attention to
detail and planning ahead made this
project successful. He ran this project
with a crew of eight to 10 workers, with
support from our office.”
Photo courtesy of Poseidon Dredge & Marine
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
– Peter Kolb
108 | ISSUE 2 2021 www.piledrivers.org
/www.MVE-STL.com
