By Michael Coughlin Jr.
During the Jeffries Point Neighborhood Association’s (JPNA) monthly meeting on Oct. 14, Marshall Greenland, Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina’s (BHSM) general manager, shared updates on work that has been completed and future plans at the site.
First, Greenland reviewed the work at Building 17, including asbestos abatement, demolition, and associated site work, which has been completed.
He then provided an update on its current operations: it has been using a floating dry dock on Pier 3, which is a “means of pulling large vessels out of the water and servicing them,” according to Greenland. The dry dock was initially delivered to BHSM around March.
“We’ve been pretty enthusiastic about the demand that we’ve been getting with this piece of equipment,” Greenland said.
Greenland also indicated that BHSM is doing “associated infrastructure repairs” as it relates to the dry dock, like utility upgrades and pier repairs. “This will be something that will be continuing to grow, certainly over the next year, with associated infrastructure repairs, and equipment and stuff like that,” he added.
As the presentation continued, Greenland shifted to discussing upcoming construction plans, the next being new concrete travel-lift piers for its new 80-ton travel-lift.
Greenland said the goal was to begin construction of the piers this winter, with an estimated completion date in mid-spring.
“That’ll be a fairly significant project as far as building two new piers that’ll be 120 feet in length off of the headwall at Pier 3, and they’ll also go inland another 60 feet to support the machine when it’s on land,” Greenland said.
“Between the piers will be a wash basin to collect and recycle all of the washed water that comes off of the vessel.”
Lastly, Greenland discussed plans to fill its graving dock, with construction not slated to begin until early 2027. “We’ll be, throughout the course of the next year, going to different permitting meetings for that,” he said.
The dock, slated for filling, has not been operational for over a decade, and the goal of the work is to connect BHSM’s yards, Greenland said.
“Typically, right now to get to the yard on one side or the other of this graving dock, we have to go on Marginal Street,” Greenland said. “We’re trying to remove all of that off of the road.”
After the presentation, attendees had the opportunity to ask questions.
One resident asked about work related to Buildings One and Two in BHSM’s investment plan, specifically when plans for the buildings would be available on BHSM’s website.
“When we have plans for Building One and Two, we will come to the JPNA and present any of those plans before we go anywhere else with them,” said Greenland, who hoped they would have something to present in 2026.
The same attendee followed up to ask if the JPNA would hear more about Buildings One and Two before Four, which Greenland confirmed was correct.
A JPNA Board Member, Andrew Pike, requested clarification regarding Buildings One and Two, as information communicated after a September Open House indicated that the heights would be similar to those of surrounding buildings. Greenland indicated that the buildings being referred to were in the “30-35 foot range.”
Lastly, Tyler Lane, another JPNA Board Member, asked about flood mitigation related to filling in the graving dock. “As far as the graving dock filling, it’ll be improved stormwater drainage and pervious surfaces so that none of the water is held there,” said Greenland.
For more information about the JPNA, visit https://jeffriespoint.org/. The association’s next monthly meeting is scheduled for Nov. 10, according to its website.