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Introduction: The Complexity of Coastal Property Repairs

It has never been straightforward to undertake repairs and expansions on Maine's coastal properties. Property owners are compelled to collaborate with a limited number of firms specializing in marine construction to get their projects designed, permitted, and constructed. However, this year, the situation became even more challenging following a series of storms last winter that caused widespread damage across the state. Particularly along the coast, two storms in January wreaked havoc, tearing out many docks and wharves and severely eroding parts of the shoreline.

Impact on Prock Marine

For companies like Prock Marine of Rockland, this created a significant backlog. Previously, it took the firm 10 to 14 months to complete projects such as dock rebuilds and shoreline stabilization. But with the influx of repairs from last winter's storms, the timeline roughly doubled, ranging from 18 months to two years. Project manager Sean Kelly stated that while the company could potentially shorten this timeline by expanding its staff from 35 to 40 people, construction firms like Prock have faced difficulties in filling positions even as their more experienced staff approach retirement. "We'd love to assemble another crew, another barge crew, but it's hard to maintain what we've got," Kelly said.

Need for More Workers in Marine Construction

It is now widely recognized that Maine requires more workers to replace those aging out of vital industries like construction and other trades. State officials have recently singled out marine construction as one of the areas most in need of new workers if Maine's lucrative working waterfronts are to be prepared for the more severe storms expected with climate change. According to the new four-year climate action plan released this month by Governor Janet Mills' administration, "Increased contractor capacity, particularly in marine construction and the engineering, planning, and permitting components of these projects, will be critical." The report calls for studying the recent storms and working with industries, organizations, and community colleges to expand the number of builders capable of coastal construction. More broadly, it aims to create opportunities for 7,000 new registered apprentices to serve as the state's "climate-ready workforce" by 2030 and increase the number of women working in construction, among other steps.

Limited Options for Coastal Property Owners

As it stands, coastal property owners have few firms to turn to when trying to rebuild after storms. In Stonington's fishing port, where the busy local lobster co-op suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage in January, economic and community development director Linda Nelson stated, "There is Prock Marine and there is Prock Marine, pretty much, and if you can get Prock Marine, if you have a job that's big enough and lucrative to get on their schedule, great." Nelson, who is also the co-chair of a state commission studying how to make Maine's infrastructure more resilient against similar storms, emphasized that Maine will need more "human and financial resources" to quickly repair essential infrastructure such as roads, docks, bridges, and others in the wake of severe storms. There is also the broader challenge of rebuilding this infrastructure to be higher and more protected from future damage.

Unique Challenges in Marine Construction

Several factors make marine construction more laborious than traditional land-based projects. These include additional permitting requirements, the need to work off barges, and the difficulty of ensuring that structures will remain level on the ocean floor while withstanding tides, corrosion, and other forces. At Prock Marine, Kelly said there is no one-size-fits-all solution to bringing in more workers. However, he welcomes the efforts of the state and private organizations to create a pipeline for young Mainers to enter the trades. He is now working with the state Labor Department to start the company's own apprenticeship program. He is hopeful that more students from the state's schools will recognize the value of receiving vocational training and entering the trades, especially at an established company where they can receive ongoing training, mentorship, and a full set of benefits. "Now the trick is to get the people who are interested to walk through the door and fill out an application," he said.

The University of Alabama is set to embark on an exciting project as its Board of Trustees has given the green light to build a state-of-the-art high-performance computing and data center on the eastern edge of campus. Construction is all set to commence, with a projected completion date in late 2026. This significant development is set to revolutionize research and educational opportunities at the university.

Powerful Computing and Data Center

The UA HPC will house a large, interconnected computing system that will claim the title of the fastest in the state and be on par with peer research institutions. It will boast an estimated $25 million worth of computing power along with additional space dedicated to providing a cloud storage alternative for potential research partners. This center will serve as a powerhouse, supporting research across all campuses of the University of Alabama System and facilitating collaboration with external partners through shared infrastructure for research and workforce development.

Attracting World-Leading Faculty

The system is expected to attract world-leading faculty members to UA. These esteemed scholars will enhance educational experiences and help recruit more high-achieving students. The HPC positions the UA System for more industrial, government, and academic partnerships, which will lead to increased economic development and intensified discovery, especially in key research areas such as water, materials, transportation, health, national security, and quantum computing.

Funding and Facilities

Most of the funding for this remarkable project comes from a disbursement by the United States Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, along with a supplemental appropriation from the state’s Education Trust Fund. This approval by the Alabama Legislature and the signature of Gov. Kay Ivey in 2023 has made it possible. The HPC will be a petascale computing system, capable of performing quadrillions of calculations per second. It will be the only system in Alabama to meet the benchmarks for the Top500 list, the ranking system for the nation’s high-performance supercomputers. The 40,000 square feet facility will allow for a substantial increase in UA’s computing power in a modern setting that enables UA researchers to compete for and secure federal and private industry grants and contracts.

Benefiting Students and the Community

“The application of machine learning to scientific problems means high-performance computing is essential for scientific discovery,” said Dr. Allen Parrish, executive director of the Alabama Cyber Institute. “The new center will offer UA students the chance to collaborate with faculty and find answers to our most pressing questions related to water, mobility, and power technologies. This high-performance computing and data center touches every discipline on campus and presents an opportunity to integrate technology throughout the university’s fabric. It will prepare students for their careers and drive the development of a highly skilled workforce that will fuel economic growth in Alabama for the 21st century.”This story originally graced the University of Alabama’s website, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s pursuit of excellence in research and education.