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infrastructure across Pacific islands — present significant opportunities. While Baird’s client on the break- water is the U.S. Navy/NAVFAC, the project intersects with local stakehold- ers, including the Port Authority of Guam, underscoring the layered nature of marine infrastructure delivery in defense and commercial environments. Pacific island nations and territories are also evaluating upgrades to aging port facilities, many dating back to World War II. As military and com- mercial demands evolve, the need for resilient, modernized marine termin- als is growing. “The Pacific is very rel- evant for us right now,” said Anglin. “The Glass Breakwater project has been a tremendous stepping stone. It’s opened doors and relationships across the region.” Another project that Baird recently supported was the $177-million recon- struction of the fuel pier and shore- line protection for the USACE/USAF at Eareckson Air Station on Shemya Island, near the western end of the Aleutian Island chain. In this case, Baird was part of the design-build team led by the Brice-Turnagain JV. Moving across the Pacific to Australia, Baird has extensive experi- ence with a wide range of projects “Down Under”, including numerous studies along Australia’s east coast. Baird has delivered statewide tropical
cyclone risk assessments, including along the entire Queensland coast, using detailed storm surge and inunda- tion modelling to clarify coastal expos- ure for the insurance sector. The study strengthens risk‑based insurance deci- sions while giving coastal communities and port operations clearer insight into their vulnerabilities and the adaptation measures needed to build long‑term resilience. Baird is also advancing operational forecasting and structural resilience for key maritime assets along the east coast. For the Port Authority of New South Wales, Baird has developed an advanced wave‑forecasting sys- tem that combines numerical mod- els, machine‑learning corrections and real‑time data to enhance short‑ and medium‑term forecast accuracy for all port operations along the NSW coastline. In Queensland, Baird has contributed to structural reliability assessments for major port infrastruc- ture evaluating environmental loading conditions, age‑related deterioration, and future climate impacts to sup- port long‑term asset management and upgrade planning. Baird’s Pacific engagement also includes contributing work on Taiwan’s offshore wind development as that country emerges as a global leader in the renewable energy sector. Marine engineering plays a pivotal role in
that transformation, from foundation design to port infrastructure upgrades required to support turbine assembly and installation. For Baird, offshore wind aligns naturally with its coastal and marine specialization. “Offshore wind requires a sophisticated under- standing of wave climates, seabed con- ditions, marine construction logistics, and navigation — core strengths of our firm,” said Thomas. “As the world focuses more on climate change and resilience, we’re in a very unique and exciting space.” Taking a pragmatic approach to pro- jects where climate resilience is a key consideration, Anglin noted that rising sea levels, intensified storm events, and significant uncertainty in the impact of climate change as one looks further into the future, require new approaches to design. “It’s a balancing act,” he said. “You must account for climate change, but you can’t design for the absolute worst case in every scenario — it’s just not practical. So, we look at adapta- tion. How do you design something that can be modified if conditions turn out worse than assumed?” This approach resonates strongly in the Pacific, where coastal communities and ports are closely connected and resources must be carefully allocated. Beyond the Pacific, the Arctic is another region of significant inter- est to Baird; this region is undergoing
Baird has been part of the project team for the Admiral Glass Breakwater in Guam.
March 2026 — PACIFIC PORTS — 19
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