Since its construction in 1962, the drydock experienced up to five inches of differential settlement, and the resulting cracking raised questions regarding the drydock's structural integrity. The Navy asked the design team to identify a temporary repair solution that could extend the drydock's life by roughly 10 years until federal funding and ship repair schedules would allow for replacement of the base slab.

Shannon & Wilson evaluated the cause of settlement through targeted field explorations and testing.  After determining the cause, the design team exceeded the Navy's expectations by identifying an innovative, permanent repair solution to quickly reestablish support beneath the aging drydock base slab, significantly extending the life of the drydock. The solution involved a unique application of compaction grouting to improve loose soil beneath the drydock without damaging the floor slab, all within a limited access environment.

This solution allowed the Navy to spend less than $10 million and achieve a permanent repair in nine months-a significant improvement over a fix the Navy estimated would cost tens of millions of dollars and take several years to complete.