Major breakwater works begin at Port of Ravenna

The first of 18 concrete caissons that will form a new breakwater at the Italian port of Ravenna has been installed.

The breakwater, which will be around 900 metres long, will be made up of 18 cellular concrete caissons, each measuring 53 by 22 metres. The caissons are being prefabricated inside the Port of Ravenna using the Kugira Dos floating dock, one of the largest of its kind in the Mediterranean. Ten caissons have now been completed, with the 11th currently under construction.

The first caisson was towed for six miles along the Candiano Canal to the installation site as part of a convoy involving tugs and mooring-service vessels. Once on location, the 53x22m structure was positioned with millimetre-level precision on a prepared stone foundation bed on the seabed, at a depth of approximately 17 metres.

The foundation had previously been stabilised through the installation of more than 26,000 gravel columns, providing a consolidated base for the massive concrete structure.

The caisson’s final positioning and controlled sinking were carried out with the help of divers and continuously monitored using GNSS satellite positioning and topographic survey systems.

“This project forms part of a broader process of evolution that all ports will have to undertake in order to also become energy and digital hubs, since they have long ceased to be merely places for the handling of goods,” said Daniele Rossi, President of the Port Authority of Ravenna. “The Port of Ravenna has already embarked on this journey, drawing on its long-standing tradition in the energy sector. The many projects currently under way in this field will help ensure a controlled, effective and sensible transition towards greener and more sustainable forms of energy.”

Supervised works

The operation was coordinated and carried out under the constant supervision of the Harbour Master’s Office and Ravenna Coast Guard, which was responsible for ensuring the safety of navigation, maritime operations and port personnel throughout the installation.

Once the remaining caissons have been installed, construction of the breakwater’s superstructure and wave wall is scheduled to begin next year.

The wave wall will rise about 10.5 metres above sea level, and the overall build programme is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027.

The breakwater is being built to protect the floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) BW Singapore, installed offshore Ravenna by Snam, from adverse sea and weather conditions.

The works were commissioned by the Port System Authority of the Central and Northern Adriatic Sea and awarded to a consortium led by Italian contractor RCM Costruzioni together with Spanish engineering and construction group Acciona.

Ravenna is one of Italy’s key commercial ports and a major logistics hub on the northern Adriatic, supporting industrial, energy and offshore activities.