Design features for Arctic ports berths for accepting the ships with a deep draft

Abstract

Construction of new Arctic ports is a complex scientific and technical challenge. The experience extends to the berths that can accept the vessels with a small draft only during the summer navigation period. Commercial efficiency of shipping in the Arctic seas is possible only with year-round use of large-tonnage vessels of high ice class with a draft of 12 meters or more. The Arctic seas basin is mostly shallow, and the main transport task is the regular export of liquid natural gas and crude oil by shuttle ships. We analyze a currently used berth structures and their operational features. It has been revealed that the berths of the overpass type on piles of shells with a concrete grillage require additional ice protection structures in the port water area, since power loads from the vessel mooring and ice may be critical. The infrastructure of the modern marine port in the Arctic should combine with production and logistics capabilities, since the internal transportation of goods is labor intensive. A mooring structure from the arrays of concrete gravity caisson wharf is proposed, which can be quickly constructed and they can accommodate additional equipment for transporting or transferring cargo. The studies are performed at the Department of Hydraulic Port Construction in Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping.