Creating a Resilient Marina – Marina Dock Age

Report on Creating Resilient Marinas: Emphasizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Introduction

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season with a 60% chance of an above-normal season, predicting three to five major hurricanes of category 3, 4, or 5. In this context, the concept of “Resilient Marinas” has become critical. This report outlines the objectives, implementation, and benefits of resilient marinas, emphasizing alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

Definition and Importance of Resilient Marinas

Resilient Marinas are facilities that adopt cost-effective measures to reduce vulnerabilities, property damage, and adverse impacts from severe weather and climate change. These measures ensure marinas remain insurable at reasonable costs and preserve property values. While the occurrence of severe weather cannot be controlled, proactive mitigation, disruption minimization, and accelerated recovery support sustainable economic activity and community resilience.

Categories of Resilience Measures

1. Physical Improvements: Strategic site design and construction of fortified structures, systems, and utilities.
2. Operational Measures: Implementation of Severe Weather Preparation Plans to reduce damage through planning and preparation.
3. Residual Risk Management: Insurance coverage for remaining risks.
4. Recovery: Proactive management of insurance claims, vessel salvage, debris management, and reconstruction.

Steps to Creating Resilience

1. Hazard Characterization and Vulnerability Assessment: Analyze environmental conditions such as wind speeds, precipitation, storm surge, tides, and waves, including future climate change impacts, to assess marina vulnerabilities.
2. Resilient Marina Design Benchmarks and Plan: Establish design benchmarks aligned with regulatory codes and beyond-code standards to reduce risk and improve return on investment. Develop a prioritized design plan with cost-benefit analysis.
3. Marina Physical Improvements: Implement resilient site layout, building, and harbor structure designs for new or existing marinas.
4. Severe Weather Preparation Plan: Develop and execute plans to prepare, respond, and recover from severe weather events.
5. Residual Risk Management: Manage risks through commercial property and vessel insurance.
6. Rapid Recovery: Expedite recovery by pre-negotiating contracts and documenting conditions to optimize insurance claims.

Designing for Resilience

Design Benchmarks

• Shoreline flood protection against frequent flood events (5-year Mean Recurrence Interval).
• Building and utility elevation to 100-year flood levels, including beyond-code protections.
• Structural fortification to withstand 500- to 750-year flood and wind loads.
• Incorporation of sea level rise projections over 50 to 75 years.
• Harbor wave attenuation to limit wave heights during design flood events.
• Design of fixed and floating docks to withstand wave and flood conditions with adequate freeboard.

Site Design Considerations

• Delineation of current and future FEMA flood hazard zones with setbacks to create buffer zones.
• Waterfront perimeter flood protection using elevation increases, floodwalls, boardwalks, and deployable measures.
• Wave and flow velocity attenuation through landscaping and native coastal plantings.
• Dry ground and elevated boat storage to prevent flotation during floods.
• Site grading for stormwater runoff and elevated areas above flood levels.
• Flood-resistant pavements and stormwater infrastructure using green infrastructure such as vegetated swales.
• Building and dock orientation to reduce exposure to prevailing storm conditions.

Natural and Nature-Based Features (NNBFs) for Shoreline Protection

Integration of NNBFs supports SDG 14 (Life Below Water) by enhancing marine habitats and water quality while providing resilience benefits:

• Living shorelines to prevent erosion and attenuate waves.
• Perimeter fringe marshes adjacent to armored slopes.
• Native plantings to reduce flood flow and wave velocity.
• Vegetated landside areas for stormwater treatment and flood mitigation.
• Living breakwaters for wave attenuation and habitat enhancement.

Wave Attenuation Strategies

Wave attenuation is vital for marina resilience and involves significant investment. Strategies include:

• Breakwaters, wave fences, and floating wave attenuators designed considering prevailing and storm conditions.
• Living breakwaters that integrate ecological enhancements.
• Multi-stage wave attenuation systems combining various features.

Harbor Structures and Building Resilience

• Floating Docks: Designed for tidal flooding and storm surge accommodation with elevated guide piles and structural capacity.
• Buildings and Accessory Structures:
  • Relocation to higher ground outside flood zones.
  • Elevation to design flood levels plus freeboard and sea level rise allowances.
  • Dry and wet floodproofing techniques compliant with FEMA guidelines.
  • Structural reinforcement for wind and flood loads.
  • Retrofitting existing buildings for enhanced resilience.
  • Aerodynamic design to reduce wind loads.
  • Use of flood-resistant materials and scour protection.

Resilient Marina Systems

• Elevate or waterproof electrical components consistent with ASCE 24-24 standards.
• Flexible conduits and hoses to accommodate dock movement.
• Land-based fuel dispensers with safety shutoffs; flexible fuel lines for dock-based pumps.
• Anchored, contained aboveground fuel tanks with secondary containment.
• Movable “flex” structures for waste oil storage and water treatment to facilitate severe weather preparation.

Conclusion

Implementing resilient marina design and operational strategies supports multiple SDGs by promoting sustainable infrastructure (SDG 9), climate action (SDG 13), and sustainable communities (SDG 11). Proactive risk management and capital investments reduce losses, prevent operational disruptions, and maintain affordable insurance, ensuring long-term financial stability and environmental stewardship in the face of increasing climate risks.

Authors: Daniel Stapleton, Matthew Page, Jeff Taylor, and Wayne Cobleigh, GZA

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article focuses on creating resilient marinas, which contributes to making coastal communities safer and more sustainable in the face of climate change and severe weather events.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Emphasis on adapting infrastructure and operations to climate change effects, including sea level rise and increased storm intensity.
   • Proactive measures to mitigate damage and accelerate recovery from climate-related hazards.
3. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • Use of Natural and Nature-Based Features (NNBFs) such as living shorelines and living breakwaters to protect marine habitats and improve water quality.
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Development and implementation of resilient infrastructure and innovative design benchmarks for marinas.
5. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Incorporation of native coastal plantings and vegetated areas for flood flow and wave velocity reduction, enhancing terrestrial ecosystems adjacent to marinas.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.5: Significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected by disasters, including water-related disasters.
   • Target 11.b: Increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
3. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts.
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure to support economic development and human well-being.
5. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Indicator for Target 11.5
   • Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
   • Article implies measuring reductions in property damage and operational disruptions from severe weather events.
2. Indicator for Target 11.b
   • Proportion of local governments adopting and implementing disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies.
   • Article references implementation of Severe Weather Preparation Plans and resilience design benchmarks.
3. Indicator for Target 13.1
   • Number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies.
   • Article implies measuring resilience through hazard characterization, vulnerability assessments, and recovery time reduction.
4. Indicator for Target 14.2
   • Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches.
   • Use of Natural and Nature-Based Features (NNBFs) such as living shorelines and living breakwaters as indicators of ecosystem-based management.
5. Indicator for Target 9.1
   • Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road.
   • Though not directly mentioned, the article’s focus on resilient infrastructure can be linked to infrastructure quality and resilience indicators.
6. Additional Implied Indicators
   • Frequency and severity of insurance claims related to marina damage.
   • Time required for disaster recovery and business resumption after severe weather events.
   • Extent of adoption of resilient design benchmarks and operational preparedness plans.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: marinadockage.com