Full Issue (17 MB) - Pile Driving Contractors Association

Project Spotlight
They won the bid for Phase One of a three phase project
that was funded with stimulus package money to help revitalize
a sluggish American economy. It was valued at $1.2
million and involved 17 different locations. Although the
company is one of the preferred bidders for townships in
New Jersey, Kremer says it was a simple, cut-and-dry competitive
bid that helped them land this assignment.
It was an important project that didn’t pose any unique
challenges -- just your everyday bulkhead replacement
work, said Kremer. The project scope included bulkhead
replacement tasks, like drainage, piping, asphalt, curb,
guardrails, and all new bulk-heading. They used all Sure
Guard products: vinyl bulkhead, lightweight 10 to 25-foot
vinyl sheet pile.
“It was a nice job for us,” said Kremer. “We made good
money on it. We hope to be competitive enough to bid
on the next two phases and work with the Toms River
Engineering staff again.”
When they’re not helping jumps-start the nation’s
financial system working on stimulus projects, they do quite
well accepting other jobs.
One of the more intense projects they have had a hand
in is the Curtin Marina on the Delaware River. The Kremer
and Son crew are about half done the project, which
requires heavy excavating, dredging and digging into the
side of the seawall. It also means ensuring there is piping in
place to drain everything properly, as well as creating a new
water filter system.
When all is said and done, they will have driven 250
piles using a D8 Delmag Diesel Hammer and MHC Model
23 Vibratory Hammer, and 35-foot fibre glass sheets.
“It’s as exciting as pile driving can get,” said Kremer,
who has personally been on site every day to ensure that the
project, which is estimated at $275,000, comes in on time
and meets the client’s needs.
But achieving those two project goals, at times, has
been easier said than done. It has come with its own set
of unique challenges, admits Kremer. Given the nature of
their work, contractors are competing with nine or ten foot
tides that change every week.
They have had to be strategic in their planning efforts
to take advantage of low tide, which means the crew could
spend one week working during the day and the next day
working through the night.
R. Kremer and Son built by hand
With a load of government projects under their tool
belt, they are responsible for 30 different locations in and
around New Jersey, which Kremer estimates to be around
1,700 feet of new bulk heading.
That doesn’t take into consideration the three different
marinas they are contracted to build this year. “When
it comes to marinas, we do everything,” says Kremer who,
along with his wide and brother-in-law, has turned a small
pop-operation into one of the most competitive and reputable
marina construction companies in New Jersey.
Operating solely in the Garden State has kept them
consistently busy since Erich’s father, Richard Kremer,
started the company over 25 years ago. The senior Kremer
• Bulkheads • Foundation Pilings
• Barge Work, Salvage & Towing
• Cantilever or Pile Docks
• Inspections
Free Estimates
Fully Insured
RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL
Ph: 732-477-8012 • Fax: 732-477-9224
86 MANTOLOKING RD. • BRICK, NJ 08723
www.kremermarine.com
78 • Q4 • 2009