Page 56 - spaces4learning, Fall 2024

s p a c e s 4 l e a rn i n g MILITARY EDUCATION
connection would be designed to sup-
port the training facility during normal
academic shore-side operations—rather
than those at peak demand. This decision
limited the increased load to the lowest
threshold required to serve the Patriot
State II. However, this limitation did not
eliminate the need for an additional ded-
icated service feeder from the local utility
to supply shore power to the ship. RMF
worked with the utility company to run
a new service entrance feeder throughout
the campus before being transformed to
the voltage required to serve the ship.
Like SUNY, Massachusetts Maritime
also sought to offset the winter heat-
ing requirements of the Patriot State II
with its existing steam generation, but
RMF’s assessment found that the cur-
rent system in place would be unable to
meet the peak demand of the ship’s heat
exchanger. Evaluating the economics of
the local electricity rates versus the steam
operating costs, along with the cost of in-
creasing shore-side steam generation ca-
pacity, RMF determined that increasing
the shore-side steam generation capacity
to the peak demand of the vessel would
require additional plant footprint. It also
would not be as cost-effective an invest-
ment, as peak conditions rarely occur.
A plant replacement was designed to increase the system
capacity as much as possible, while maximizing the existing
building footprint. This allows the shore-side steam generating
capacity to provide more than double the average demand from
the ship’s heating system, despite being only roughly 50% of
the peak demand.
Maine
The third NSMV will be delivered to Maine, whose academy
shares a port with its historic coastal town—requiring careful
coordination and planning to support the variety of vessels that
berth there. An expanded concrete pier, built on steel pilings,
will replace the existing timber-construction, with new utility
connections designed specifically to support the NSMV run-
ning beneath, including new underground steam lines, sewer
lines and water lines. Like SUNY and Massachusetts Maritime,
a new utility service was required to support the load of the
NSMV, and new infrastructure was distributed to the pier.
RMF has been working closely with the local utility company
to upgrade its distribution line, following which, a new elec-
trical service will be provided, transformed, and distributed
throughout the campus to serve the new training facility.
RMF also worked with a design team led by GZA to provide
56 FALL 2024 | spaces4learning.com
upgraded infrastructure and waterfront improvements. The ex-
isting steam plant at Maine Maritime had no room for growth,
and currently runs exclusively on No. 2 oil, increasing the oper-
ating cost of the plant when compared to natural gas. Instead of
increasing the plant’s capacity, other buildings currently served
by the plant are being fitted with local boilers to increase avail-
able steam capacity to the vessel.
Conclusion
Despite the consistency across each NSMV, all three campuses re-
quired highly tailored approaches to solve the unique challenges
and design criteria. RMF’s comprehensive and nuanced strategies
for SUNY, Massachusetts Maritime, and Maine Maritime not
only prepare the local grid for the increased electrical demands,
but also equip the campuses with adequate utilities to receive the
new ships and best support the continued academic programs and
the communities surrounding each campus. As a result, our U.S.
Maritime Academies will bring their vessel training and class-
room programs into a new era of teaching and learning.
Kevin Kikola, PE, and Michael Wilkins, PE, are both proj-
ect managers with RMF Engineering. Andrew Hay, PE, CxA,
is the division manager of infrastructure engineering with RMF
Engineering.