The Port of Tarragona lays the first caisson of the Balears Wharf

Three of the eleven caissons needed have already been manufactured on the “Mar del Aneto” floating dock

The first caisson has now been installed on the Balears Wharf. This was one of the most complex operations as it was the initial foundation and had to be placed without a prior reference point. Its placement was only possible following confirmation that the previous levelling operation had been completed correctly.

The complex operation for laying this first caisson was carried out in six and a half hours. It was probably the slowest of the operations, as there were no other caissons on which to support it.

These concrete foundations are placed on the ballast base material once the foundation layer and levelling gravel have been verified as correct.

Once manufactured, the caissons are moored near the Catalunya Wharf while they acquire strength and the pertinent safety measures are prepared for when they are ready to be installed.

Construction forging ahead at a good pace

Caisson production on the “Mar del Aneto” floating dock has reached cruising speed with the completion of the third caisson for the Balears Wharf. Caisson construction has surpassed the expected rate of one per week by approximately 25%.

In total 11 caissons 41.05 m long, 16.75 m wide and 21.30 m high will be built. The weight of an empty caisson is 7,288.80 tones, while it is calculated that a full one will weigh 33,440.65 tons.

The Balears Wharf construction is now in the fourth of a total of ten phases. This phase is being carried out in parallel with some of the earlier phases, such as the caisson manufacture and the laying from a barge of the rockfill material from the Vallcarca quarry.