New Deflecting Dock System in Alabama

The Yamaha Motor Corp. test facility in Bridgeport, Alabama, has a new “current deflecting” dock system designed and fabricated by Marina Technologies (MTI) to withstand the Tennessee River, which can flow more than 4 knots and carry debilitating logs and debris.

The new Deflector Dock is 12 feet wide and 8.5 feet tall. It incorporates MTI’s D260 aluminum floating dock with an outside wall of vertical Cumaru hardwood planks extending down to a draft of approximately 6 feet. The dock is installed at an angle to deflect the current without “catching” any debris, allowing it to pass by the downstream docks and boats. A massive underwater aluminum frame system anchored with 30-inch piles supports the dock system. The dock also features dual 4-inch EPDM rubber fenders and 22-inch, 10-ton cleats to facilitate the large test boats.