SEMINAR ON

MARINE
STRUCTURES
Marine structures are either structures built
along shoreline or on water. These
structures are designed to serve a specific
purpose. They may be built to reduce
erosion along shoreline or widen the beach
or to protect the vessels in the harbor from
wind action or wave energy.
A few of the marine structures are
Breakwaters
Quays
Docks
Channels
Jetties,etc

Breakwaters
Quays
Docks
Jetties
The seminar mainly deals on
these marine structures:
Mound breakwaters
Special breakwaters
Docks
Introduction:
Natural harbours
Semi-natural Harbours
Artificial harbour
Breakwaters
The protective barrier constructed to enclose the harbour
and to keep the harbour water undisturbed by the effect of
heavy and strong seas are called breakwaters.
Breakwater along Shoreline Breakwater protecting Harbour
Forces acting on breakwaters
Hydrostatic force
External forces : Wind and wave action
Solvent action of seawater
Sea insects
RUBBLE MOUND TYPE BREAKWATER
Characteristics of mound breakwater:
Dissipation of kinetic energy of incoming
waves is done in stages by different layers
of mound.
No binding materials are required between
layers of stone.
No special bond is required between the
layers of construction.
Natural foundation is unprepared.
No possibility of overturning and sliding.
Advantages of mound breakwater
Low in initial cost of materials of construction,
equipment for construction and labour required.
There is no possibility of uplift, since the
construction is porous.
Construction is flexible. Hence, any weak point
created at any level is transferred to top, which is
above water surface and hence can be repaired
easily.
Dissipates the energy of incoming water wave
most efficiently.
DIS-ADVANTAGES OF MOUND TYPE
BREAKWATER
Settlement of mound takes place for first few
years by adjustment of voids between adjacent
stones and by rolling down of some stones. This
requires continuous maintenance for first few
years.
Construction of mound is in the form of pell-mell
fashion, hence when projection of stones is
chipped by water, the stones role down the slope
producing gaps, which makes the mound weak.
The inner side of mound cannot be used for
loading or unloading.
Huge quantities of materials are required for
mound construction.
Special type breakwaters
Floating type breakwater
Hydraulic breakwater
Pneumatic breakwater
Floating type breakwater

Hydraulic breakwater
Docks
Dry docks
Wet docks
Dry Docks
The arrangement in a
Dry Dock is to take in
a vessel, close the
door and pump out
the water.
The dry docks are
used for repairs of
vessels
Wet Docks
The Docks which are
used for berthing of
vessels to facilitate
loading and unloading
of passengers and
cargo are known as
Wet Docks.
Advantages of docks:
Uniform level of water is maintained which
is very convenient for handling cargos. It
increases the commercial activities of port.
It prevents the rubbing of the sides of
ships against the quay walls.
Effects of storms in the outer sea and
harbour do not obstruct the dock
enclosure
DIS-ADVANTAGES OF DOCKS:
The main drawback of wet docks is that
costly arrangements have to be provided
for locks and lock gates and more time will
be required for entry and exit.
Conclusion:
Marine structures facilitate the ships to
take in and discharge passengers and
cargo, provide repair, docking facilities
under protected conditions. Marine
structures are subjected to destructive
forces like wave and wind forces, which
carries enormous kinetic energy other than
hydrostatic and uplift pressures. Hence
careful Analysis and design of marine
structures is required.
Thank You