New life for an old dry dock
CGI of Dieppe dry dock transformed as a 300-slot drystack
We read this article and thought it was a fascinating account of what can be done with a redundant dry dock and the desire to make it work once again…
A unique project to transform a redundant drydock into a drystack storage port is under way in Dieppe, France. The facility is on four levels and equipped with an automated ship handling and boat launching device.
Commissioned by the Dieppe Port Development Association, further to a study on boating development potential in the city, the project was contracted out to SCE and Creocean; subsidiaries of SCE Groupe.
Together, the companies undertook technical, economic and environmental feasibility studies and controlled construction work.
By transforming and reusing the dry dock, the contractors have developed a forward looking, technically innovative boat storage port whilst retaining the architectural integrity of the original dock. Important use has also been made of an expensive existing infrastructure.
The first practical step in the process was to close off the dry dock by building a gravity wall. This was completed in September 2010 and heralded an extensive cleaning and renovation process, completed by April 2011.
Stringers were built for the guide rails for the “transtocker” – used to take the boats from the rack to the boat elevator – and for the actual storage racks.
The racks were scheduled for installation in June and installation of the boat elevator and construction of waiting pontoons had already begun. Tests on the system were scheduled for July and all work on the drystack and associated technical zone development was due to be completed by September.
The Dieppe drystack will be able to accommodate 300 motorboats of up to 7m in length and each boat will take less than 10 minutes to retrieve and launch. A 70m permanent waiting dock is being constructed and a further 70m of removable waiting pontoons will be installed.
A total of 60 boats can be accommodated in “holding” positions. A technical repair and careenage area completes the arrangement.
The Dieppe Port Development Association is also commencing studies to evaluate harbour land around the drystack with a view to building a public road network and devising an urban plan, which will include space for chandlery and yachting services outlets. This will give boaters access to a complete boat maintenance centre.
Reproduced from Marina World, JulyAugust 2011
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