Structural Composites Inc. (SCI) has been awarded a competitively bid contract valued at more than $9 million by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Canaveral Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Sector Gate Project at Port Canaveral. The small-business set-aside award represents a significant milestone in the adoption of advanced composite materials for critical marine infrastructure and further establishes SCI’s leadership in next-generation Civil Works solutions.
The project includes the design, fabrication, and delivery of two FRP sector gates and associated components for the Canaveral Lock, supporting navigation, water management, and long-term operational reliability. Upon completion, the gates will be the largest FRP structures ever deployed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, marking a major advancement in the transition from traditional steel gate systems to high-performance composite alternatives.
“These composite gates fundamentally change the economics of marine infrastructure,” said Scott Lewit, President of Structural Composites Inc. “SBIR-developed American composite technologies allow us to reduce upfront costs, dramatically lower lifecycle expenses, and deliver infrastructure designed to perform reliably for generations.”
Engineered for harsh marine environments, the composite gates address longstanding challenges associated with corrosion, high maintenance requirements, and escalating lifecycle costs common to steel infrastructure. Compared to conventional steel sector gates, FRP systems offer projected service lives exceeding 100 years. Compared to traditional systems, this solution’s total lifecycle costs should be up to five times lower, due to reduced maintenance demands and longer inspection and replacement intervals.