CHAPTER 4:

GENERAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS AND STRUCTURAL DESIGN

CRITERIA

4.1 GENERAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

(i) Site Conditions

 Topography
 Bathymetry
 Sub-surface and geotechnical data, geologic history
 Seismicity
(ii) Environmental Conditions
 Meteorological information: normal and extreme winds,
rainfall, temperature, etc..
 Oceanography: normal and extreme waves, currents,
tides, ice, water chemistry, harbor surge, etc.
 Frequency and probability of storm conditions
(iii) Operational Considerations
 Vessel data : size, type, frequency, berth occupancy
time, loading and servicing requirements
 Vehicle data: size, type, capacity, operating dimension
 Trackage: cranes, loaders, railroad, weights, windage,
speed, reach and swing
 Special equipment: mooring hardware, capstans, loading
arms, production lines, etc
 Services and utilities: shore connections, fire protection
and safety eqpt, lighting and security, electrical power,
piping, water supply, etc.
 Cargo storage area
(iv) Functional Considerations
 Dredging, scour and siltation, propeller waste
 Vessel traffic and traffic control systems (VTS)
 Landside access; remoteness, roadways, airports, etc
 Maintenance practice: cathodic protection, damage repair
(v) Navigational Considerations
 Channel depth and width
 Vessel approach conditions
  Navigation aids
 Availability of tugs
(vi) Constraints
 Regulatory: water quality requirements, oily ballast,
dredge disposal and fill
 Permits and Licensing
 Availability of materials and eqpt
 Existing facilities (charged usage, upgrading limitations,
etc..

4.2 STRUCTURAL DESIGN CRITERIA

Structural design criteria should include the following items:

(i) Overall dimensions and configuration

(ii) Deck elevation
(iii) Water depth and scour allowance
(iv) Deck, cargo and equipment loads
(v) Berthing loads max. vessel, speed and approach angles
(vi) Mooring loads max. vessel, wind, current and wave action
(vii) Design life and durability requirements
(viii) Materials and construction methods
(ix) Allowable stresses and safety factors
(x) Applicable codes and standards

4.3 FACILITY TYPE REQUIREMENTS

4.3.1 General requirements

Requirements for marine terminal facilities are dictated by vessel

type, dimensions and operating characters. Factors determining
overall layout and design criteria are:
(i) Berth length, number and location of vessel loading points
(ii) Apron width and need for short-term storage on the pier or
wharf
(iii) Storage area required, including the need for open backland
and covered shed areas
(iv) Cargo handling eqpt. and traffic flow
(v) Exposure to sea conditions
(vi) Deck elevation as it affects cargo operations throughout the
tidal cycle and consequences of storm flooding
(vii) The need for buildings such as storage sheds, waiting areas,
customs, admin. Offices, longshoremen’s shelters, toilets,
etc..

4.3.2 Specific requirements

(i) General cargo: General cargo vessels usually are equipped

with their own cargo handling eqpt.
Min. berth length: 600 ft, Apron width: min. 60 ft, max. 120
ft.
(ii) Container terminals: These require more backland area for
stocking and temporary storage of containerized cargo
- Min. berth length: 900-1000 ft
- Space required: > 25 acres
- Apron width may vary between 80 – 160 ft
(iii) Ro/Ro : Vessels are usually equipped with their own
ramps. Vehicle carriers are equipped with 2 or more ramps.
Quay and wharf decks:
- Must be clear and unobstructed to allow mixed use
- Must support localized reactions of the vessel’s ramp
- Deck elevation to be designed to cater for loaded and
unloaded threshold height
- Quay decks may be sloped to accommodate varying
ramp angles

(iv) Ferry terminals: They service passengers and highway

vehicle traffic. They require small moderate backland area
for short-term queuing of traffic for passenger areas. Space
is required for passenger boarding and waiting areas. As a
rule of thumb: Min. 10ft2/passenger.
Most important:
- must have transfer bridge and a high energy
absorption/maintenance fender system
 - ample guide-in dolphins should be properly located to
facilitate rapid and safe berthing maneuvers
- must have scour protection from propeller wash

(v) Barge carrier systems: These are designed for barge

handling afloat where the vessel route typically connects
with inland waterways. They are generally known as Lighter
Aboard Ship (LASH).
(vi) Dry bulk cargo facilities:
- They are dedicated to handling commodities such as
ores, minerals, coal, cement, grains, wood chips, etc.
- They are usually loaded/unloaded by special equipment
with conveyor systems to storage and distribution areas
- Berths are generally built offshore because of large size
and deep draft of bulk carriers
- Offshore berths must be designed to survive severe sea
conditions as well as max. vessel berthing and mooring
loads
- Bulk carriers undergo a very large change in draft and
trim between loaded and unloaded conditions
- Some bulk carriers are equipped with self-unloading
systems (booms, conveyors and may discharge their
cargo directly to the quay/wharf deck
- Sometimes cargo may be mixed with water and pumped
through pipes in slurry.
(vii) Liquid bulk cargo:
- This includes crude oil and petroleum products and some
chemical solutions and food stuff. LNG and LPG are also
carried but with strict regulations.
- A typical tanker requires only two breasting dolphins
flanking central loading for handling hose connections
and additional mooring points
- Tankers are very large. They must berth offshore on sea
island or on single point mooring (SPM).
- Fire protection systems are important
- They may require additional pump stations depending
upon the distances involved.
- Typical pumping rates are: 22,000 barrels/hr for 25,000
DWT and 75,000 barrels/hr for 200,000 DWT
 (viii) Ship and Ship repair yards
- They require large, open layout and storage areas,
machine shops and admin. Buildings, large travelling
cranes, building ways and basins or transfer on dry
docks
- They reqire berthing space for newly built ships or
conducting repairs afloat
- The rquire portal type cranes 25-65 tons capacity and
Revolving type cranes ≥ 300 tons
(ix) Military bases
They are designed to specific naval requirements, e.g. US
Navy’s NAVFAC Design Manuals. Military installations are
largely self-sufficient and require extensive utility and ship
services similar to those required by shipyards. Potable
water and sewage requirements are high. Additional floating
fender systems may be required.

(x) Fishing and Small Craft

- These are tugs, workboats, small barges and
miscellaneous service craft.
- They have minimal berthing facility and backland area.
Water and electricity are often the only utilities provided
- Fishing vessels may require some means of discharging
their loadings, e.g. small jib cranes at fixed locations
- Larger vessels may require mechanized conveyor-type
loading/unloading facilities
(xi) Marinas
- These are yachts or recreational vessels that are
generally under 50-60 ft in length
- They require protected sites, adequate backland area for
parking.

4.3.3 Environmental Conditions

Environmental conditions include:
- Winds
- Waves and harbor oscillations
- tides, storm surge and water level variations
- currents
4.3.3 Materials Selection
Primary materials used in civil eng. are timber, steel,
concrete and stone. For port engineering, additional materials
include:
- rubber and elastomers for fendering
- synthetic materials for pile protection
- metals for special hardware fastening (iron, steel,
aluminium, copper-nickel, etc.)
It is important to consider the following properties:
- Structural properties: strength, density, fatique,
impact resistance and changes under temperature
extremes
- Durability: this is the natural resistance to marine
environment. Protective measures are required
- Compatibility: physical and chemical interaction with
other materials and the ability to be integrated
structurally with other materials
- Cost and availability: these include transportation
and handling, long-term maintenance costs and
availability of the required member sizes
In principle: all structural steels must be protected against
corrosion by protective coatings, claddings, galvanizing or cathodic
protection
Concrete: this is excellent material for marine environment.
Important: quality control, use of admixtures for resistance to
sulfate attack, freeze, etc.