Ampliación del Puerto de Mónaco (2 de 2)

Dry Dock Construction and Maneuvering Process

Flooding the Dry Dock

• The dry dock was flooded using 40 cm diameter pipes acting as a siphon, allowing seawater to flow over the retaining wall to a level of approximately -7 m.

• A total of 95 m of piping was utilized, operating continuously for three days to achieve the desired water level.

Access Walkway Construction

• An access walkway measuring 39.3 m in length and 3 m wide was constructed, weighing 60 tonnes and made from modular metal components.

• The design accommodated movements of the floating caisson (up to 2 m horizontally) and tidal changes while supporting trucks up to 32 tonnes.

Dredging Operations

• The demolition of the dry dock retainer wall allowed for dredging an exterior channel that was 80 m wide and 15 m deep.

• Excavation involved removing a total of 65,000 m³ mechanically, with an additional 20,000 m³ excavated using land equipment and another 15,000 m³ through blasting.

Towing Maneuvers

• The exit maneuver from the dry dock began with two tugs (60-tonne capacity), later reduced to one tug while four others pushed against the sides for control.

• Four winches on the banks controlled the dock's movement throughout this process, ensuring stability during towing operations.

Dock Arrival in Monaco

Preparation Before Arrival

• Upon exiting the dry dock, four tugs transported it to Algeciras port where it was ballasted with fresh water (16,000 m³), achieving a draught of 15 m necessary for sailing.

• Tasks such as sinking piles and positioning chains were executed by the Russian ship Stanislav Yudin equipped with a powerful crane.

Pile Installation Details

• Steel tube piles (75 mm thick; diameters between 1–2m; lengths between 20–25m), manufactured in Germany, were sunk using hydraulic hammers down to depths of up to 80m below sea bed.

Mooring Lines Installation

Chain Positioning Operations

• Ten definitive mooring lines were installed with unique methods rarely seen in civil engineering; chains fixed via eyebolts connected each pile securely.

• Chains totaling a length of approximately 3,500 meters were anchored at their free ends to buoys located underwater awaiting docking arrival.

Towing Journey Overview

Route Selection Factors

• The tow route chosen left Algeciras bay westward past Balearic Islands towards Monaco took about twelve days covering over 1,500 km at an average speed of around three knots.

Tug Specifications

• A primary tugboat (75m long; power:13,500 hp; pull:180 tonnes), assisted by a backup tug monitored various sensors controlling forces during transit.

Final Connection Procedures

Dock Positioning Techniques

• Upon arrival in Monaco on August 26th, operations commenced involving five tugs aligning the dock while maintaining specific separations during connection processes.

Precision Connection Maneuver

• Final connection required moving a mass of approximately163,000 tonnes precisely within millimeters utilizing large steel girders supported by hydraulic jacks for stabilization.

Innovative Engineering Solutions

Design Considerations

• In case of earthquakes or unusual movements , auxiliary chains ensure stability if disconnection occurs , showcasing innovative engineering solutions addressing geotechnical challenges faced during construction.

Conclusion