Harbours and marinas

When designing a new or extended port layout a large number of marine aspects must be taken into consideration to guarantee safe and efficient port activities. These include:

• navigability
• influence of passing vessels
• port and marina layout design
• entrance channel design
• breakwater layout design
• berth designs
• revetment types for wave dissipation
• wave penetration
• hydrodynamic integration of different (potentially conflicting) port functionalities, such as intake and outfall locations
• currents in the approach channel and inside basins
• sedimentation and maintenance dredging
• water quality issues (flushing, influence of discharged ballast water)

Deltares has a broad knowledge of physical processes, which is essential to deal with the above-mentioned complex hydrodynamic issues. This knowledge enables us to efficiently advise our clients on port and marina related issues. Depending on the type of question, modelling software developed by Deltares and/or the versatile physical modelling facilities of Deltares can be applied.

We have performed studies for various port and marina projects and used our expertise on hydrodynamic topics to advise our clients in different design stages. These activities range from reviewing the feasibility of complete layout plans, to the details at the berth, such as the required fender types and mooring line distributions. Our clients range from local port authorities to contractors, engineering firms, master planners, project developers, and national governments.

Software

• SHIPMA: a fast-time simulation model for manoeuvring vessels in ambient wave, current and wind conditions.
• Moored vessels: calculations of motions of vessels moored at a quay influenced by environmental conditions (wind, waves…). Results to be compared to relevant criteria.
• TRITON: Boussinesq-type wave model for nearshore and port applications (including wave penetration). A coupling between TRITON and a diffraction vessel response model is available.
• PHAROS: mild-slope model for wave penetration in harbours (including directional spreading and spectral module).
• SWAN: third generation spectral wave model for wave transformation to nearshore.
• Delft3D-FLOW: shallow water model to compute current conditions in and around ports and entrance channels, including effects of tides, fresh/salt water in case of river discharges, warm/cold water (stratification) in case of intake and outfalls.

Presently Deltares is involved in three PIANC working groups related to ports and marinas:

• WG52 (MarCom): ‘Criteria for the (un)loading of moored container vessels’
• WG54 (MarCom): ‘Use of hydro/meteo information for safe port access and operations’
• WG130 (RecCom): ‘Anti-sedimentation systems for Marinas and Yacht Harbours’.

Downloads

List of concise descriptions of recent project related to harbours and marinas

New brochure Sedimentation in channels and ports