Port of Bandon Marina, Bandon, Oregon

Port of Bandon Marina

Bandon, Oregon

West Coast Contractors, Lee Composites, Bellingham Marine

The town of Bandon, Oregon was founded in the mid-1800s at the mouth of the Coquille River on a scenic part of the state’s southwest coast. By the time the U.S Army Corps of Engineers built a jetty at the Port of Bandon in 1884, the town was a center for the export of salmon, cranberries and salmon.

More recently, Bandon has become better known for sportfishing and for its highly rated Bandon Dunes golf resort. As recreational boating supplanted commercial salmon fishing, a marina in the Port of Bandon was first constructed in 1984 by the Donald W. Thompson Construction Company. Forty years later, the marina has exceeded its designed life with aging piling and docks in need of repair or replacement. Had been seeking funding for the project for a few years, working hard to land a number of grants designed to provide economic development and vitality in the area.

The Port awarded a design-build contract to West Coast Contractors (WCC). Work began in the fall of 2023 and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2024.

The design work for the project was performed throughout the summer of 2023 by KPFF from Seattle. Existing dock facilities were removed in October and piling pulled using WCC’s Kobelco CK1100 crawler crane and an APE 200 vibratory hammer, working from a modular barge.

Dredging of the marina and nearby boat ramp needed to be completed prior to reconstruction could begin. Over 36,000 cubic yards of material were removed by the dredging subcontractor utilizing a suction dredge. Bathymetric surveys were done to assure correct levels were achieved. Due to salmon runs, the in-water work proceeded throughout the winter in rain, winds, currents and tides.

With the dredging accomplished, WCC began constructing the new facilities. The new marina consists of 80 slips on five docks. Forty-eight steel piles—each measuring 60 feet high by 16 inches wide—were driven into the rock, 13 to 30 feet below mudline. SuperSleeveTM HDPE sleeves manufactured by Lee Composites were placed over each pile to prevent corrosion and chafe.

The harsh conditions along Oregon’s coastline present challenges for marine facilities. One factor is a large tidal swing: On March 22, 2024, the swing from low tide to high tide at the mouth of the Coquille River was six feet. And although the marina at the Port of Bandon is a certified “Oregon Clean Marina,” chemicals in the Coquille from the lumber industry remain a persistent threat.

 

A more constant condition is wind. According to WeatherSpark, the average hourly wind velocity at the Port of Bandon from November to April is 8.3 miles per hour, and 9.5 in December. That wind creates constant river chop, and in turn, a lot of chafe on pilings.

The use of HDPE pile sleeves eliminated the need to coat steel piles with anti-corrosion chemicals. The Lee Composites sleeves are custom manufactured— 37 feet long, 16.5 inches in diameter and sleeve thickness of .187 inches for the Bandon job—and slip over the piles and into the mudline, isolating the pile from the salt water.

“These pile sleeves are a game changer for marine facilities like Bandon,” said WCC’s Senior Project Manager Chad Walker. “This will add years to the life of the piling.”

Dock sections were manufactured by Bellingham Marine and installation was sequenced with the pile driving schedule. Once in the water, the sections were attached together and utilities were run. Divers were used as needed on the project although water visibility is minimal during Oregon’s wet winters. “It was like construction by Braille,” stated WCC Superintendent Don Thompson, who long after the marina was first built is involved in its reconstruction. “The divers couldn’t see more than an inch or two in front of their faces.”

Much has changed at the Port of Bandon, both since its early history and since the marina’s original construction. The current infrastructure, should serve marine operations at this scenic location long into the future.

Port Infrastructure Maintenance

Port infrastructure maintenance can seem like a daunting task, but for Lee Composites, Inc. it’s a revolutionary stepping stone. Lee Composites, Inc. is a multi-faceted leader in marine and commercial composite products providing solutions to protect marine and freshwater facing infrastructure. They design and manufacture products such as seawalls, pilings, plastic lumber, rubber fenders, and dock bumpers that are used at ports all around the world.

Fender Replacement at Barbours Cut terminal-1

Bob Lee, President of Lee Composites, Inc., established the company in 1989 after working for Dow Chemical and a startup composite company. Lee started his company as a consultant before growing it into manufacturing, where he could develop and market maritime products.

Early on, Lee Composites, Inc. helped develop the first fiberglass pultruded corrugated interlocking sheetpile in the world and the first patented SuperHanger™ PVC pipe hanger system. Both products were critical needs in marine infrastructure and helped pave way for the ShibataFenderTeam™ Fender System, Fiberglass Marine Pilings, and more.

 

LEE COMPOSITES, INC. HELPING PORT HOUSTON

Today Lee Composites, Inc. is the number one supplier of fenders and is a one-stop shop for most maritime businesses around the world including Port Houston. Gilda Ramirez, Senior Director of Port Houston’s Small Business and Education Outreach Department, says “Lee Composites is a registered, certified small business in the Port’s Small Business Development Program who truly provides value, quality, and price competitiveness to the Port and its prime contractors for the past 9 years. They have provided complete fender systems and bollards for the Turning Basin, CARE, Barbours Cut, and Bayport Container Terminals. Bob Lee is a subject matter expert in the Shibata Fender System, fiberglass marine pilings, and composite lumber and shares that knowledge with the Port to achieve the best ship docking system.”

Currently Port Houston is working with Lee Composites, Inc. on two projects at Bayport and Barbours Cut updating the fender systems at both terminals. These innovative upgrades will help protect the terminals from wear and tear as well as keep the people and vessels safe during operations.

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Port Houston has also been steadily upgrading other parts of its terminals thanks to Lee Composites, Inc. At Turning Basin and Manchester terminals, there were upgrades to STRUXURE™️ Plastic Lumber which helps the rails and walkways stay strong and durable over time. Additionally, at Turning Basin and Care Terminals there were new fender systems put into place.

CHANGES IN BUSINESS?

What makes Lee Composites, Inc. unique is their ability to conquer hurdles and make high-quality products that customers need. Although the pandemic and winter storm may have slowed down most businesses in the last year, Lee Composites, Inc. has been staying strong.

“Our products are designed many months in advance and have to be planned ahead of time. Although some deliveries were slowed due to the pandemic, we changed our tactics and were still able to keep up with demand,” Bob Lee states. “We had one of our best years in 2020 and I know there’s still plenty of growth ahead.”

Lee Composites, Inc. has been in business for over 31 years and they certainly know the value they bring. With high-quality products, excellent service, and trusted maritime expertise, it’s no wonder they are used by many major companies around the world. Bob Lee and his team don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.

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Marine Construction Magazine Interview

MCM Conversation:
Lee Composites’ Bob Lee

Bob Lee is, in his own words, a “one-man band.” Born and raised in North Carolina, Lee was trained in business management at Georgia Tech and was fascinated by mathematics and plastics. He joined the Dow Chemical Corporation after graduation and discovered the field in which he has spent the past 50 years—composite materials for marine construction applications.

After working for a Fortune 100 company and helping to build a startup in composite products, Lee knew that he wanted to run his own business. He formed his own company in 1989, and ever since, he’s built a reputation for entrepreneurship, collaboration and nearly fanatical customer service.

“Man, I can’t wait until the pandemic is over. There’s no substitute for being in front of the customer.”

 

MCM asked Lee about his background, his partnerships with prominent marine construction firms – and how he keeps a one-man band moving forward.

MCM: Many people assume that a Georgia Tech graduate is “a hell of an engineer,” but you were a business and computer major, weren’t you?

Bob Lee: I started at the Georgia Institute of Technology as a math major, and decided I wanted to go into computers. They had a new degree called Management Science, which allowed me to use my mathematical skills but also to learn about marketing. We were the first graduating class, in 1972, in that major. At that time, my objective was to get my masters, but Dow Chemical was interviewing at the campus—and I was in the process of getting married. So I went to work instead of grad school.

Dow Chemical sent me to training at their headquarters in Midland, Mich. and around to their field offices. A very popular movie then was The Graduate, in which Dustin Hoffman’s character is advised to go into plastics. Well, it struck a chord in me that Dow’s areas of expertise were in plastics – polyolefins, polystyrenes, inorganic chemicals and others. So I actually did go into the plastics world.

Dow was looking for management trainees. They weren’t hiring just engineers or scientists. They brought in people with very diversified capabilities. At my first class in Midland, I met people from Berkeley, MIT, Notre Dame, and every one of them had a different degree. Dow’s idea was for you to develop yourself in what they called the Management Development Program. Eventually, you made the decision, along with others at Dow, where you wanted to go in the company.

Everybody started at a salary of about $9,000 a year. In 1972, we thought we were making good money! But Dow was strictly a salaried company. They gave stock options, but didn’t offer incentives. So I became more and more interested in growing my income by growing my own company.

MCM: How did you become an entrepreneur?

Lee: In 1979, I met a gentleman who offered me a golden opportunity to be vice president of a company he was setting up in the reinforced composites arena. And that’s why I left Dow, which was a superb company. It was a changing point in my life.

The company was Enduro Fiberglass Systems, started in 1978 by Jack Church, who was like a father figure in my life. Mr. Church was the kind of guy who lived by the motto “let’s shoot first and ask questions later”—in other words, let’s be aggressive, let’s be assertive, let’s go get the business. We grew Enduro from nothing to over $10 million in annual sales, and I stayed there for 10 years. But eventually, I decided that I wanted to own my own business.


You have to have good partners. And it’s not just the head people. It’s the people who are doing the inside work, the people in the shop. They’re what makes me successful.”


My first step was to become a consultant. I started The Lee Company in 1989 and consulted for two years. Companies hired me for my know-how in processes and products. One day, around 1992, I decided I needed to take it further. That’s when Lee Composites, Inc. became an entity. I took my consulting business straight into manufacturing, where I could develop and market products.

MCM: You moved from consulting to building a brand-new business. Why?

Lee: I wanted to do it my way, As a consultant, I was giving people my ideas and getting paid but not really seeing the benefit of those ideas.

It was a progression. I spent 10 years in the composite industry with someone who allowed me to take a company and grow it, to the place where I decided to consult, and I was very blessed. But I wanted more. I felt like I had the ability to give more, but also to see more of the benefits than what I was being offered. That’s the carrot I’ve always carried with me—wanting to reach further, and never being satisfied with where we are. And that’s why today, I can work 12 hours, seven days a week. There’s always more out there, and more people who need what we can offer.

MCM: If you had to summarize exactly what it is that you offer, what would you say?

Lee: I am the only one in my industry who has a complete system. What I do today, I do with partners who are the top in their areas of work. ShibataFender-Team, the leading manufacturer of fenders in the world. Creative Pultrusions, the leading manufacturer of fiberglass piling and sea walls. Ultra, number one in fiberglass hand rails. I’ve built my company around myself in the center, handling all of these products lines, making it a system for the client, a one-stop shop. I am the Home Depot of composites to the customers.

That’s why I travel so much. I go everywhere to be in front of the customer.

MCM: It sounds like your years as a consultant were critical to what you do today.

Lee: Yes, they were. Those years taught me the value of going and asking, “What do you need?” As a consultant, you’re giving people what they’re asking for. They pay you, thank you and say goodbye. Now, when I go to a customer, I just do my job and show people what I can offer. Not just my engineering ability, but actual products that I developed.

MCM: You’re a small company that works with some large corporations. What’s the secret to collaboration?

Lee: Having good partners. When you own your own business and your desire is to grow, not fail, and you want to take your company to heights that you know you can reach, you have to have good partners. And it’s not just the head people. It’s the people who are doing the inside work, the people in the shop. They’re what makes me successful. I never say, “I did it.” It’s “we all did it.” And I never say I’m an agent, a broker or a distributor. No. We are partners. Period.


“I could retire today, if I wanted to, but I don’t want to. I feel that in the next three to five years, there’s going to be a huge amount that we can accomplish.”


MCM: How has the pandemic affected your work?

Lee: Man, I can’t wait for this to be over. Normally, I would be in front of customers every single day. We’ve all restructured our businesses, doing virtual webinars and things like that, but nothing beats being in front of a customer.

MCM: How do you stay in shape to handle that level of work and travel?

Lee: I exercise, keep my weight, cholesterol and cardiovascular health at the right numbers. Both of my parents are 92 and have their minds. I’ve worked in an effective way. I don’t over-stress. I play golf on the weekends. I know how to work and I know how to relax.

MCM: Do you plan to retire?

Lee: People have asked me when I’m going to retire. And I ask them, “Why? Do I look like I need to? Am I not following up, am I not bringing in the orders?”

I am blessed. My company is under $10 million in sales, but that’s not bad for a one-man band. I could retire today, if I wanted to, but I don’t want to. I feel that in the next three to five years, there’s going to be a huge amount that we can accomplish.

MCM: What will you pass on from your knowledge and experience?

Lee: That my story is built on passion. If you truly believe in something, go do it. A one-man band can achieve success. You don’t have to have 55 people working for you. You just have to have the support of others. Partners.

Lee on a fender trip to Barbados
Lee on a fender trip to Barbados

It wouldn’t bother me to go on the lecture circuit, because I just love doing presentations. I thoroughly love being put in front of people. Ask me anything. If I don’t have the answer, I’ll get it. But that’s in the future. I still have roads to travel, mountains to conquer. The business is out there.

Published by Marine Construction Magazine.

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