Ports, Terminals & Maritime Infrastructure
Ports, terminals and maritime infrastructure play a critical role in global trade, regional economies and supply chain resilience. These facilities must operate efficiently in complex coastal and industrial environments while adapting to evolving demands, regulatory requirements and technology. Owners are challenged to simultaneously expand capacity, maintain operations and strategically manage investments.
Why Ports, Terminals & Maritime Infrastructure Matter
Ports and maritime facilities are critical gateways linking marine transportation with roadway, rail and industrial networks. As cargo volumes grow and operations become more complex, infrastructure must support larger vessels, increased throughput and efficient landside movement while maintaining safety and reliability in dynamic coastal environments. Integrated port infrastructure enables owners to move cargo more efficiently, reduce congestion and maintain operational continuity as systems evolve.
Well-planned port investments strengthen supply chains and support long-term economic vitality, particularly when planning, funding, design and construction decisions are aligned to support phased growth and future adaptability.
The Burns & McDonnell Advantage
We bring a multidisciplinary approach to ports, terminals and maritime infrastructure that integrates planning, engineering and construction into a coordinated delivery strategy. Working with clients early, we help define priorities, evaluate alternatives and identify funding strategies that support capital investment decisions.
Our teams support complex port programs through design-build, progressive design-build and engineer-procure-construct (EPC) project delivery, providing clear accountability in active operating environments. By integrating delivery teams from the outset, we reduce handoffs, manage risk and allow planning, design and construction phases to advance in parallel — accelerating schedules and improving cost and schedule certainty.
This approach allows key phases to advance in parallel while improving coordination across stakeholders. We plan and phase work to maintain throughput, minimize disruption and protect ongoing operations, while navigating evolving regulatory, environmental and technology requirements.
End-to-End Port & Maritime Infrastructure Solutions
Port and maritime projects require infrastructure solutions that integrate waterfront structures with terminal layouts, cargo handling areas and connections to surrounding transportation networks. Our solutions are informed by operational needs, constructability, permitting and long-term performance considerations.
Our work includes site and infrastructure assessments, master planning, evaluation of berth and dock systems, and coordination of utilities, stormwater and electrification initiatives such as shore power and terminal power upgrades. Technology and data-driven tools support planning and sequencing decisions to improve efficiency, safety and long-term performance in complex coastal and industrial environments.
