Port scuttlebutt - December 2001

Mooring Dolphin On-The-Go

The Port of Wilmington’s new $600,000 pile-supported concrete mooring dolphin project was completed in November. The Port’s Engineering and Maintenance Department carried out this project at the eastern side of the Floating Berth.  The new mooring dolphin will improve Port access for liquid bulk tanker vessels as well as auto and RoRo carriers.  

The entire construction project took place on the Christina River between the Floating-Berth and the Petroleum-Berth, and included driving of two test piles and 24 support piles.  By the end of November, the piles had been covered by a concrete structure to form the finished mooring dolphin.   

Whitney, Bailey, Cox & Magnani, LLC, of Baltimore designed the mooring dolphin, and Commerce Construction, Inc. of Bridgeport, New Jersey undertook the construction contract. 

“We are confident that the new mooring dolphin will improve our ability to handle larger vessels for our customers and provide a more timely and efficient discharge of their cargo”, said Robert Senseny, Port of Wilmington Harbor Master.

The Big Bananas Win The Port of Wilmington
Inaugural Basketball Championship

With extraordinary excitement and determination the “Big Bananas” team defeated the “Cargo Getters” team and won the Port of Wilmington’s 2001 basketball tournament.  Port employees and customers comprising ten competing teams played from Thursday, November 1 through Saturday, November 17, 2001 at the Bancroft Elementary School in Wilmington.

The final deciding games were played on November 15, 16, and 17th. All of the teams were named after a port cargo or a port-related theme.  The ten participating teams were the Arra Grapes, Big Bananas, Brae Burners, Cargo Getters, CMPs, Grapes of Wrath, Killer “B’s”, Kiwis, Recoops, and the VW All Stars.

In the photo: 
The Big Bananas and The Cargo Getters 
on their final game

On the final playoff day, Saturday, November 17th, the tournament came down to three teams:  The Recoops, the Cargo Getters, and the Big Bananas. The Big Bananas, coached by Bernard (Bronco) Vega, won the Port of Wilmington basketball championship, after defeating The Cargo Getters.     

Adam McBride, Executive Director for the Diamond State Port Corporation awarded the trophies to the winning teams, thanking them for their determined fight and enthusiasm: “You all demonstrated great sportsmanship which makes us all look forward for next year’s championship”. Debra Thompson, organizer of the competitions thanked the committee members for their support, with special recognition to Teddy Jackson. 

Founded in 1923, the Port of Wilmington is an important asset for the local and regional economy, generating more than 5,800 jobs and contributing over $22 million in annual tax revenues to State and local government.  The Port is owned and operated by the Diamond State Port Corporation, a corporation of the State of Delaware.  For further information, digital photos, free tours of the Port and free speakers contact:
Vered Nohi-Becker, Marketing Services Manager at the Port of Wilmington
@ (302) 472-7819, e-mail: vnbecker@port.state.de.us