Dredging side slopes in the Gasco Sulphur channel project
Type:
Presented during:
CEDA Dredging Days 2012 - Virtue, Venture and Vision in the Coastal Zone
Authors:
Belle AAAJ and Afan MA - National Marine Dredging Company, United Arab Emirates
Abstract: The UAE has gained international recognition due to the large scale and rapid construction of its massive projects in coastal and marine areas. With Abu Dhabi's ever growing oil and gas industry, new terminal, ports, navigation channels and jetties are constantly being developed, creating design, environmental and construction challenges.
The paper presents a description of the challenging dredging works for the access channel for a new Sulphur handling terminal and a port expansion for chemical plant in Ruwais UAE. The project required the dredging and disposal of approx. 19 million m3 of dredged material. Different execution methods for the Cutter Suction Dredgers have been assessed for dredging of the channel and subsequent side slopes and berthing pockets, in order to optimize timing, cutting processes, maximization of utilization of the equipment. The challenge for the dredging works was to design and dredge the side slopes, berthing pockets & corners for both channels, which can be seen as obstacles to overcome without jeopardizing the tight schedule.