A Mixed Cargo Terminal at the Port of Veracruz in Mexico is being built and is expected to have a significant positive impact on trade and logistics in the region including enhanced capacity, improved connectivity, economic growth, expansion of international trade, and a competitive advantage that will strengthen Veracruz's position as a leading port in Mexico. As part of the port project of the century, this new terminal will significantly enhance the port's capabilities, making it a crucial node in the global logistics network.

The construction of the new Port of Veracruz is a significant infrastructure project aimed at modernizing and expanding the port's capacity. The project includes the development of various terminals for fluids, multipurpose use, containers, agricultural bulk, and mineral bulk. Once completed, the port's capacity will quadruple from 22 million to 90 million tons, allowing for more efficient handling of goods and reducing the need for diversions to other ports. This improvement to their infrastructure will reduce both operation and transportation costs and is expected to generate new employment opportunities during the construction phase and in the long term; attracting more business, boosting the local economy and potentially leading to further investments in the region. The port will also support the offshore energy sector, becoming a benchmark for technology, innovation, and sustainability. These benefits collectively aim to enhance the economic landscape of Veracruz and its surrounding areas, making it a crucial hub for trade and industry in Mexico.

Puertos Logísticos de México, S.A. de C.V. (PLM), a member of Grupo CICE, is part of the new Port of Veracruz project. In 2024, PLM was awarded the contract for the construction, equipment, and operation of this project in the North Bay area of the port. To assist with this large undertaking, PLM hired sub-contractor CIMESA, a Mexican based construction company with a reputation for delivering quality work and maintaining high standards in safety and environmental practices. The construction requires robust deep foundation solutions to support the heavy infrastructure and ensure stability, which is why CIMESA wisely chose to reach out to their International Construction Equipment, (ICE®) Sales and Service Team. Deep foundation piles are essential for transferring the load from the structures to the deeper, more stable soil layers. This involves driving steel, concrete, or composite piles deep into the ground. In April of 2024, an ICE® 44B Vibratory Driver Extractor was selected to drive the .91-meter and 1.02-meter diameter pipe piles to support the dock structure. Chosen for its power, the ICE® 44B has the highest frequency and driving force in its class and features a CAT C15 Tier 3 (Stage IIIA) engine which meets all EPA & EU emission regulations. 

The dock with a docking front of 550 meter (about 1804.46 ft) long and 35 m wide will be able to serve first generation of Post Panamax type vessels for containerized cargo and its mixed-use cargo terminal will handle container operations, general cargo, and mineral bulk, among other services. As of the latest updates, the construction is progressing well, remaining on time and within budget. Construction progress is advancing with the necessary infrastructure being put in place, including storage yards and terminal facilities.  

International Construction Equipment, Inc. (ICE®) is delighted to have supplied the deep foundation equipment that CIMESA has relied on for the smooth completion of this project. The pile portion of this project is expected to be complete by November of 2024. By the end of 2025, the terminal is anticipated to be fully operational and will significantly enhance the port's capacity and efficiency, making it a crucial hub for trade and logistics in the region. Trabajo fantástico, CIMESA! ICE® looks forward to many future partnerships with our partners in Mexico and beyond. 

Learn more about the ICE® 44B 

Media Contact-               
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA              
Vice President Marketing, Brand and Media Relations  
Vice President IT and IT Comm          
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc               
Office - 704-821-8200          Email - marketing@iceusa.com    

The Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility located in St. Croix, is receiving some updates to their pier after many years of weathering storms and hurricanes. The original pier was destroyed in 1989 by Hurricane Hugo and again ravaged in 1995 by Hurricane Marilyn.  Frederiksted is home to one of two deep water ports on St. Croix and is the sole port for cruise ships visiting the island. Passengers disembark at the Frederiksted Pier, where they may explore the town, enjoy the beaches, rent a car, or catch a taxi to visit other tourist destinations on St. Croix. A new pier will attract more cruise ships and tourists, which can boost local businesses, including shops and restaurants, as well as provide employment opportunities in the construction and hospitality industries. 

Eleven Construction, a general contractor providing construction service throughout the U.S Virgin Islands, was awarded the job of completing the new 80-foot-long by 50-foot-wide pier. Eleven Construction paired up with International Construction Equipment, Inc (ICE®) to install concrete piles to serve as the foundation for the pier. After discussing with the ICE® Sales and Service team, they both agreed that an ICE® I-62 Diesel Hammer would be the perfect equipment due to its 14,595 lbs (about twice the weight of an elephant) ram weight and the 35-50 blows per minute, that easily drove the piles to tip. 

The Frederiksted Pier is a popular destination for scuba diving enthusiasts, snorkeling, sport fishermen, swimming competitions, and internationally recognized stand-up paddleboarding competition the Coconut Cup. The upgraded pier will provide better facilities for cruise excursions, dive boat operators, and fishermen, enhancing their operations and safety. International Construction Equipment, Inc (ICE®) are honored to be a part of this pier upgrade and applaud Eleven Construction for their great work. ICE® can't wait to see the economic and cultural impact that the new Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility will provide! 

Learn More about the ICE® I-62 

Media Contact-              
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA             
Vice President Marketing, Brand and Media Relations 
Vice President IT and IT Comm         
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc              
Office - 704-821-8200          Email - marketing@iceusa.com 

Worcester, Massachusetts just recently had a brand-new billboard installed along Interstate 290. The newly installed billboard will be seen by thousands of motorists traveling to and from Worcester with major junctions such as Interstate 90, I-395 and US Highway 20. I-290 follows an L-shaped route with the western half running north into Worcester and then turns east towards I-495 in Marlborough. As social media continues to grow, it's easy for small businesses to think it's the best place for them to advertise. However, billboard advertising has been proven to be a highly effective format for reaching consumer audiences. 

Ultra-Lum Services, LLC who has been servicing the billboard industry since 1998 in states such as Massachusetts, New jersey, Rhode Island and more, installed the 60" x 52' out of house (OOH) style advertisement. Ultra- Lum partnered up with International Construction Equipment, Inc (ICE®) for their 39th billboard installation together! After discussing with the ICE® sales and service team, both parties decided that an ICE® 44B Vibratory Hammer along with two model 105 clamps and a 595H Power Unit would be the perfect tools to drive a Caisson style pile into the ground. 

It has been proven that billboards do work. 52% of people that pass a billboard advertisement notice it, which leads to 57% of them immediately visiting the company's website or store and approximately 93% of consumers making a purchase. International Construction Equipment, Inc (ICE®) was extremely pleased to be a part of another successful billboard installation and applauds Ultra-Lum Services, LLC for doing such fantastic work. We can't wait for billboard number 40! 

Learn More about the ICE® 44B 

Media Contact-              
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA             
Vice President Marketing, Brand and Media Relations 
Vice President IT and IT Comm         
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc              
Office - 704-821-8200          Email - marketing@iceusa.com 

Polivka International, based in Charlotte, NC, specializes in railroad construction, project management, and industrial site development and is known for its expertise in rail infrastructure design and construction. Currently, they are set to conduct production drilling at a railroad site in Maryland using two Comacchio drill rigs rented from International Construction Equipment, Inc. (ICE®). Known for their efficiency and reliability in drilling operations, the Comacchio CH 650 multipurpose drilling rig and Comacchio MC 8D were the perfect choice for this project.  

The CH series are multipurpose units, designed to ensure quick rigging, high performance, safety, and reliability. Other benefits of the extremely versatile CH 650 rig are that it is self-erecting, can be transported with minor disassembly and it is designed to cover a wide range of drilling technologies. Polivka is utilizing the CH 650 for production drilling, however it can also be used for bored piles, continuous flight augers (CFA piles), displacement piles and soil mixing. On the other side of the Comacchio spectrum, the Comacchio MC 8D is a compact drill rig that features a telescopic mast capable of drilling rods of different lengths without the application of mast extensions and will be used for some interesting coring work for the construction of a retaining wall.

Production drilling plays a crucial role in railway construction and maintenance. For instance, production drilling is used to create deep foundations which provide stability and support for railway tracks, especially in areas with weak or unstable soil. It is also essential for installing drainage systems, facilitates the installation of underground utilities, and helps minimize environmental impact by reducing soil disturbance and preventing contamination of surrounding areas. Lastly and most importantly, using advanced drilling equipment ensures efficient and safe drilling operations, which are critical for meeting project timelines and maintaining high safety standards.

Thanks to the professionals at Polivka International this stretch of railway infrastructure will soon be able to significantly and positively affect transportation options, economic growth opportunities and environmental sustainability. The ICE® Drilling Team is thrilled to be able to provide Polivka with the deep foundation equipment necessary to accomplish this job quickly and safely and looks forward to partnering with them again in the future. 

Construction of the Port Bienville Barge Fleeting Area (Project No. PB2304) in Port Bienville, MS is underway thanks to a $502,855 grant awarded by the Mississippi Department of Transportation specifically for barge fleeting area construction. Barge fleeting areas are important to maritime commerce on rivers, particularly in the United States, as they provide secure places to temporarily store loaded and empty barges. 

In early 2024 contractor, Deep South Construction & Salvage, a leader in marine construction services, was selected to update the Port Beinville Barge Fleeting area. The project, which involves the installation of four new mooring dolphins and the removal and replacement of two existing ones, is part of the Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission's efforts to enhance the infrastructure at Port Bienville Industrial Park in Mississippi.

To aid the professionals at Deep South with this important task, an ICE® 44 Vibratory Driver Extractor was rented from International Construction Equipment, Inc. (ICE®) to drive the 24"(in) x ½"(in) wall pipe pile 100'(ft) deep to create the mooring dolphins, this included one plumb pile with two battered pile on 3:1 batters. Replacement of the existing timber piles with new longer steel piles was completed to ensure the longevity of this new foundation in the soft soil.

The construction of these new mooring dolphins is expected to have several positive impacts on the port's operations including increased capacity to accommodate more barges, improved safety, and reliability of mooring operations, optimization of barge traffic, and various economic benefits to the region. 

Overall, these enhancements will contribute to more efficient and safer operations at Port Bienville, supporting its growth and continued development. ICE® applauds the experts at Deep South Construction for their continued success and is happy to have provided the equipment needed to get this project done safely and efficiently. You can see more ICE® hammers and the ICE® team back at this same location when the PDCA CFI Driven Pile Academy is held in 2025, we hope to see you there!

Learn More about the ICE® 44

Media Contact-              
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA              
Vice President Marketing, Brand and Media Relations  
Vice President IT and IT Comm         
ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc              
Office - 704-821-8200          Email - marketing@iceusa.com