THE SCHEME
Port 2000, Europe’s largest maritime project since 1970, completed by VINCI, stands at the mouth of the Seine River in Le Havre. It transforms the port into a major European logistics hub, accommodating the latest container ships and expanding capacity to 6 million TEU. Divided into four phases, SBI completed the final phase in 2023, adding Berths 11 and 12. Port 2000’s completion ensures a lasting economic impact and facilitates container shipping in northern Europe.
CONSTRUCTION
The creation of external breakwaters and an access channel to the open sea necessitated dredging 50.9 million m3 of material. The breakwater dikes primarily utilized gravel dredging material submerged and capped with imported fill, encased in riprap. Seaside protection included 32,217 precast concrete engineered blocks (Acropodes©) and a 4.3km extruded concrete crown wall. Entrance protection involved two giant precast concrete bullnose caissons (11,614 m3), prefabricated in dry docks and sunken into position.
Quay wall construction featured a 1.5m thick and 40m deep diaphragm wall, topped by a crest beam leveled at +10.20 CMH (Havre Marine Level), connecting diaphragm wall panels and accommodating container handling gantry crane front rails. The crest beam also features bollard, each with a 200-ton capacity. The upper part of the wall includes a 1.55m thick docking mask over a 9m height, hosting large fenders. The rear gantry crane runway sits on a continuous footing, with its axis positioned 35m behind the front rail.
Quay construction incorporated a sheet pile reaction wall and anchor systems. Other tasks encompassed cut-off walls, tie rods, sheet piles, pumping wells, earthworks, concrete beams, pavement, and dredging, with 13,025,000 m3 of dredged material repurposed as backfill.
The specifications of the Phase 3 project are summarized below:
- Grout wall: 61,000m²
- Diaphragm wall: 37,000m3
- Civil engineering: 13,500m3
- 2,500,000m3 earthworks related to the quay
- 1100T sheet piles and 1100 passive anchors until 50m long
- 45 no berthing fenders
- 2,400,000 m3 of dredging (Trailing suction dredger and Backhoe Dredger)
- 40,000m² of anti-scour mat in geotextile formwork grouted with cement mortar
- 2 no dolphins with 360t QRH (quick release hook)
PROJECT SUCCESS
The project’s timeline shaped design and construction strategies. SBI JV opted for temporary dikes and extensive dewatering to separate dredging from quay wall construction, reducing schedule risks in challenging nautical conditions. During construction period, Precast solutions were adopted for marine works, allowing concurrent prefabrication with on-site activities and mitigating exposure to adverse weather conditions. All four phases were completed on schedule, meeting the client’s expectations.
Photo credits: Soletanche Bachy International
