Jan De Nul Successfully Wraps Up Liepaja Port Dredging

Jan De Nul Successfully Wraps Up Liepaja Port Dredging 1

The capital dredging work for the enhancement of Liepaja Port in Latvia has been completed by Jan De Nul Group before the scheduled time.

For allowing the entrance and leave of bigger vessels completely loaded from the port, the access channel to the port was required to be adapted. As part of the Liepaja Port Water Infrastructure Works, the work of dredging was also given to Jan De Nul Group.

The work that was to be done by Jan De Nul Group included the removal of 2.7 million m³ of sediments in order to deepen the access channel of the port from 12.5 m to 14.5 m and the creation of a 14m new navigation channel of towards one of the main bulk terminals within the are of the port.

Challenging weather and soil conditions

Various weather and soil related challenges were faced by Jan De Nul Group during the project. Liepaja, which is one of the three major ports in Latvia is located along the west coast and is known for it’s low temperatures in winter and harsh weather conditions. The high waves that are seen constantly ain the Baltic Sea was a huge challenge for the Jan De Nul vessels, particularly during winter. The strong winds in Liepaja also had a great effect on the planning of the project.

The self-propelled Cutter Suction Dredger Fernão de Magalhães helped by three Split Hopper Barges was particularly selected for the dredging works because of the Baltic Sea’s heterogenous material. Very hard glacier sediments of sand, clay, stone and large boulders was to be removed by the Fernão de Magalhães.

Jan De Nul Group was able to deliver the project in just 9 months inspite of these harsh weather and soil conditions.

Mieke de Mûelenaere, Jan De Nul Project Manager of the Liepaja project: “We are proud to be able to finish the project 1.5 months ahead of schedule. Liepaja challenged us and we have succeeded. We are grateful to our colleagues of LSEZ for the constructive and positive cooperation which also led to this success.”

 

Reference: Jan De Nul Group

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