Construction and maintenance of ports

Project highlights

Creating Gorgon

In 2009, Boskalis was awarded a contract on the Chevron-operated Gorgon Project, one of the largest and most complex contracts to be undertaken in our history. Our scope of work included the design and construction of some of the port facilities at Barrow Island.

Duqm port construction

This extraordinary EPC project we dredged a new harbor basin and entrance channel with a depth of 18 meters, constructed a kilometer-long quay wall, two 400 meter-long jetties and reclaimed land for a port platform including ground improvement and associated 4 km shore protection.

Co-creation in Brazil

From 2011-15, Boskalis was involved in the construction of one of Latin America’s largest port-industry complexes in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Boskalis dredged two huge access channels, a turning basin, an inner channel, mooring berths and constructed revetments for the breakwater and over 13 km of access roads.

Dredging techniques

Trailing suction hopper dredger

Trailing suction hopper dredgers can fill their own holds (hoppers) by sucking material from the seabed using a trailing suction head fitted to pipes that trail over the bed as the ship sails.

Cutter section dredger

Dredging with a cutter suction dredger takes place while the vessel is moored with spuds or anchors and consists of powerful cutting action combined with suction.

Backhoe dredger

A backhoe dredger (BHD) is a hydraulic excavator installed on a pontoon. Dredging is executed by the excavator which is mounted on a turntable at the front of the pontoon. The backhoe dredger is mainly used for dredging in shallow or confined waters.

Coastline fixation, Cotonou

The project was developed to arrest coastline erosion in the densely-populated centre of Cotonou caused by two phenomena: erosion and human interference along the West African coastline.

Port extension, Port of Gävle

The Port of Gävle is located on the east coast of Sweden in the Gulf of Bothnia, facilitating Swedish imports and exports. The client wished to improve maritime safety and accessibility, and to increase the throughput of goods in this harbor.

Port expansion, Onne

In May 2011 Boskalis was awarded the project for the expansion of the Federal Lighter Terminal and Federal Ocean Terminal of the Onne Port Complex by Prodeco International Limited. The project entails the reclamation of approximately 200 ha with suitable materials from nearby borrow areas.

Port upgrade, Genoa

The deepening and extension of the port of Genoa is needed to accommodate the larger container vessels and the ferries of MSC. The client is the Port Authority of Genoa. The project is being executed by Boskalis Italia S.r.l. in a joint venture with Tecnis S.p.A., an Italian company that is responsible for the construction work.

Port and MOF, LNG plant Barrow Island, Gorgon

Design and construction of a new port and materials offloading facility in a class 'A' nature reserve. The project owner is developing LNG process facilities on Barrow Island off the north west coast of Western Australia approximately 140 km west of Dampier and 95 km north east of Onslow. Barrow Island is a Class A Nature Reserve and an internationally important conservation estate.

Port development, Mombasa

The Port of Mombasa is currently the biggest port on the coast of East Africa north of Durban, and the only international port in Kenya. It is now in the throes of a huge expansion drive to both increase cargo handling capacity and accommodate Panamax and Post Panamax vessels. The port is a transit route for, mainly, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and Northern Tanzania. The current container terminal has an installed capacity of 250,000 TEU but handled more than 770,000 TEU in 2011. The port will raise its profile as a regional hub by building a second container terminal with a capacity of 1.2 million TEU. The port authority decided to construct the container terminal in phases.