SEATEC sarl

Att : SOTEG sarl

Subject : Necessary data for breakwater design

Dear Mr Dabboussi,
As per your request, you can find herein a general overview of data that must be
obtained from any Client, in order to begin the design of a breakwater.

1- Definition of Client needs and restrictions :

1.1) Project objectives including needs and restrictions.
1.2) Legislative conditions regarding marine works design and
execution.

2- Functional requirements :
1.1) Purpose of the structure.
1.2) The use of the facility and the extent of protection required (e.g.
limiting overtopping, reducing wave activity in harbor, preventing
riverbank erosion… for example, different levels of protection are
advocated for ports, fishing harbors and small boat marinas).
1.3) Layout of the facility (for example, whether the area directly
behind the breakwater is to be used for berthing or storage, or whether
access along the breakwater is required).
1.4) Acceptable downtime (for example, tolerable frequency of
exceedance of the above conditions, downtime for operations,
offloading of vessels…).
1.5) Design life of the facility.
1.6) Acceptable risks during the structure lifetime, which should
influence the choice of design parameters.
1.7) Adaptability (for example, change of use of structure over time).
1.8) Level of maintenance and ease of operations or availability of
material or plant – inherent damage allowances within designs should
be identified).

3- Physical conditions :
3.1) Geotechnical ground conditions (number and location will be
specified according to preliminary overall layout of the facility).
3.2) Topographic and bathymetric conditions of site (Extension and
boundaries related to site and project).
3.3) Wind Rose (from available data).
3.4) Hydraulic forces (Waves heights and periods, tides, currents,
water levels, storm surges,…from available data and visual inspection).
3.5) Sediment load and movement.
3.6) Morphological changes.
 3.7) Uncertainties in physical conditions (confidence limits).

4- Technical data :
4.1) Availability of construction materials (sources).
4.2) Material properties (e.g. armor stone grading), quality,
durability...

5- Construction :
5.1) Health and safety issues.
5.2) Access of construction plant.
5.3) Construction materials – properties and quality.
5.4) Alternative material availability (sources).
5.5) Site area for storage of materials and operations.
5.6) Availability of dumping area (inshore and/or offshore).

6- Maintenance :
6.1) Characteristics of structure response.
6.2) Frequency and type of intervention.
6.3) Availability of suitable resources for repair (materials, plant,
expertise)
6.4) Accessibility for construction plant.

7- Environment :
7.1) Accommodating environmental requirements.
7.2) Potential environmental impacts of construction (dredging and
disposal).
7.3) Morphological and sedimentological impacts.