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Inland Construction and Engineering, Inc. (ICE) has led heavy civil and marine construction for over three decades, delivering unmatched quality and precision. Whether it’s a naval base or a remote coastal structure, ICE consistently demonstrates its ability to tackle complex infrastructure projects with precision, deliver on time, stay within budget, and adhere to the highest safety and technical standards. Founded in 1994 by Michael Hobbs Jr., a third-generation contractor, ICE’s journey began with a landmark contract with the U.S. Coast Guard, a relationship that continues to thrive. This early partnership laid the foundation for the company’s expansion, enabling it to execute high-profile projects across the U.S., from the West Coast to the Canadian border, and beyond, as far south as Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. An impressive portfolio includes work with major federal agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Navy, NASA, U.S. Coast Guard. As well as a number of large commercial clientele. Its expertise spans mission-critical infrastructure projects, including Bridge and pier rehabilitation, dredging, shore protection, and Aids to Navigation (ATON) structure replacement. These high-stakes projects demand technical mastery, flexibility, and in-depth knowledge of engineering and marine environments. ICE believes that delivering results is more than just a business goal. The company prides itself on the clarity and reliability of its service. As the saying goes, “We do what we say, when we say we’ll do it.” This dedication to transparency and accountability has earned ICE the trust of clients across the public and private sectors, and it’s why they remain a preferred contractor for demanding marine and civil infrastructure projects. Responding Under Pressure, Coast to Coast Flexibility and rapid response times are essential in construction and engineering, particularly in the marine and heavy civil sectors, where unforeseen challenges can arise quickly. ICE’s ability to mobilize and execute under pressure is one of the key reasons it has earned a reputation as one of the most dependable contractors in the field. A perfect example of this is ICE’s performance following Hurricane Michael’s devastation in 2018. The storm caused widespread damage to infrastructure, including boat ramps and marine access points in Bay County, Florida. ICE was called upon to restore these critical assets under tight timelines. The company mobilized its resources rapidly and worked tirelessly to restore these vital connections for residents and businesses.
The freight and logistics markets in the U.S. constitute a dominant $1.3 trillion industry shaped by an integrated supply chain that connects numerous producers and consumers. In logistics, ‘time is money; and on-time trucks keep the money flowing’—a fundamental principle that sums up the ethos of logistics. This competitive industry, however, is witnessing a massive transformation. Unforeseen client demands, labor shortages and inadequate logistics infrastructure collectively strain the industry, challenging many businesses to meet their production, delivery and distribution targets. Various sectors face the ripple effects of this resultant supply chain disruption, prompting them to find a logistics partner capable of meeting their modern-day shipping needs. That’s where Service Driven Transport (SDT) shines. A fast-growing 3PL company, SDT provides businesses with an exceptional suite of services that cater to their modern-day shipping requirements. From distribution and warehousing to freight forwarding and supply chain consulting, the company offers a gamut of services—all under one roof. This makes SDT a reliable, cost-effective and one-stop-shop partner for businesses looking to improve their supply chains, reduce risks, increase performance, and augment ROI. Its clientele entails a diverse range of businesses, from Fortune 500 companies to SMBs and startups across various industries. Bringing Excellence to Logistics Established on the strong foundations of its extensive industry expertise and experience, SDT is quickly earning itself a name in the logistics space with its customer-centric approach to service delivery. The team boasts years of experience serving the retail, manufacturing and healthcare sectors, allowing it to anticipate all challenges before they arise and provide proactive solutions that consistently exceed client expectations. It operates worldwide, with a broad network of carrier partners empowering it to provide greater supply chain efficiencies for customers. Its extensive global network, coupled with local market knowledge, enables SDT to offer reliable solutions to its clientele while ensuring compliance with all local laws and regulations.
FreightWise, a leading provider of data-driven supply chain solutions, stands out in the freight audit and payment sector by offering a unique blend of technology and services tailored to this specialized field. It assists small and medium-sized businesses with limited resources and knowledge in this area, resolving freight audit and payment challenges and improving spend visibility through advanced data and analytics. Acting as an extension of its clients’ transportation teams, FreightWise outsources this function to its experts, driving efficiency and savings. FreightWise’s capabilities have recently been enhanced with the strategic acquisition of Kuebix, a leading transportation management system (TMS) software provider. This marks a significant expansion in service offerings by introducing a standalone self-service freight audit and payment technology to its portfolio. Kuebix’s powerful TMS allows the company to customize the supply chain services and provide greater value and flexibility to clients. “We do everything from auditing, collecting invoices and reconciliation to general ledger coding and accounting,” says Matthew Everson, executive vice president of sales. “Clients can choose between leveraging freight audit and payment as an outsourced team or a self-service function within Kuebix.” The freight audit and payment technology streamlines the efforts of clients’ accounts payable team by effectively managing time-consuming and costly manual tasks like invoice corrections, unpaid invoices, accruals and aging accounts. It also provides customers with accurate, actionable shipment data, from initial quotes to final settlements, enabling informed supply chain decisions. By incorporating the freight audit and payment module into the TMS, FreightWise gives its clientele access to comprehensive, accurate data on the actual costs of shipments. “One thing that we very easily bring to light for our clients is the delta between a planned cost and an actual cost,” says Gregg Lanyard, vice president of product management and pro services.
Eric Schreiber, Director, Operational Excellence, Overseas Shipholding Group
Jeremy Angelle, VP of Well Construction, Expro
Jonathan (J.W.) Hackett, Senior Director, Environmental Products, Global Partners LP
David Woodham, Network Engineering Manager, Southern Linc
Frode Jensen, VP of Product Line Management, National Oilwell Varco
Marine construction trends prioritize sustainability, digital innovation, modular design, and eco-friendly materials to improve efficiency, resilience, and environmental responsibility.
Green certifications and carbon footprint assessments are becoming part of standard bidding and planning processes.
Marine Construction Powers Global Transportation
Marine construction extends beyond traditional building. It delivers specialized expertise in dredging, shoreline protection, and structural rehabilitation, ensuring waterways remain safe, navigable, and ready for evolving global demands. Through a combination of engineering precision and innovative solutions, marine construction reinforces the foundation of trade, strengthens coastal infrastructure, and safeguards the connectivity that drives worldwide commerce.
In this edition of Transportation Review, we spotlight marine construction service providers that strengthen global trade by expanding port capacity, improving coastal infrastructure and enabling maritime transport to meet growing demand and industry needs.
It features Inland Construction and Engineering (ICE), a trusted name in heavy civil and marine construction. With three decades of expertise, ICE delivers complex projects with precision and resilience, building ports, protecting coastlines and strengthening waterways while upholding its legacy. It is also recognized for its rapid response during emergencies, restoring vital infrastructure under tight timelines.
We also feature insights from David Harmon, Vice President & Chief Information Officer at Oil States International. He emphasizes enterprise resource planning systems as the foundation of post-merger integrations, highlighting consolidation and acquired strengths to enhance efficiency and value. Complementing this perspective, Nate Schaublin, president and COO at Keller Logistics Group, highlights challenges in logistics from supply chain disruptions and rising costs to talent retention. He emphasizes employe-ecentric strategies, client diversification, and integrated transport services, while noting future trends such as automation, RPA, and self-serve portals to improve visibility and client value.
We hope this edition highlights how marine construction enhances infrastructure, connectivity, and ensures maritime transport is well-prepared for the future.