On June 12th, the final caisson for the Luoyu Operation Area Berth No. 13 Project (Phase I) in Meizhou Bay Port’s Dongwu Port Area, constructed by The Sixth（xiamen）Engineering Co., Ltd. of CCCC Third Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd., was precisely installed in place. This marks the completion of the installation of all 11 caissons for the project.
Located in Putian City, Fujian Province, the project involves the planned construction of one 70,000-ton bulk cargo berth. The terminal is designed with an annual throughput capacity of 5 million tons and an annual passing capacity of 5.5 million tons. The terminal’s hydraulic structure adopts a large gravity caisson design, requiring the installation of 11 caissons.
Overcoming the Challenge of Transporting and Installing “Giants”
The caissons for this project are exceptionally large, heavy, and tall. A single caisson weighs 2,849 tons, with dimensions of 17.85 meters in length, 16.8 meters in width, and 21.6 meters in height, presenting significant safety risks during transport and installation.
To address this, the project team employed a combined construction technique: “Ultra-high-pressure airbag skidding + 6,000-ton semi-submersible barge transport + floating crane-assisted flotation.” The caissons were skidded from the prefabrication yard onto the barge using airbags. The semi-submersible barge utilized its own buoyancy for sea transport. Upon arrival at the site, a floating crane assisted with positioning. The entire installation process was simulated using BIM technology, ultimately achieving installation precision within 3 centimeters.
Accelerating Progress to Meet Tight Deadlines
With 11 caissons in total, the construction sequence from foundation trench excavation to caisson installation involved numerous steps and a substantial workload. Compounding this, the lengthy process for initial permits meant significant pressure to meet critical schedule milestones.
Completion of the terminal foundation was a prerequisite for caisson installation. Given the tight timeline for the foundation, the project team accelerated progress by increasing equipment and personnel resources and rationally optimizing the construction sequence.
The caissons were prefabricated at the Quangang Honghai Prefabrication Yard, located just 7 nautical miles away, ensuring high transport efficiency. Furthermore, the project team proactively completed advance reporting procedures with the Quanzhou and Putian maritime authorities before transport, effectively reducing clearance time. This enabled seamless integration between the “transportation-installation” processes, achieving a production rate of one caisson every two days.
Achieving “Zero-Interference” Construction in Complex Conditions
The project site is adjacent to Berths 8 to 12, which encompass both operational terminals and ongoing construction projects, resulting in frequent overlapping vessel traffic and construction activities.
The project team established a “Daily Communication + Dynamic Adjustment” mechanism. Through thorough communication with adjacent construction units and the construction/operations department, they gained detailed understanding of the terminal’s construction and operational status. The caisson transport route was optimized, and construction timing was carefully scheduled to avoid peak periods for operational vessel movements, minimizing impact on the surrounding area. During peak installation periods, the team used the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) system to monitor waterway dynamics in real-time, ensuring construction and operational vessels maintained separate paths. This enabled “zero-interference” construction throughout the entire cycle.
With the completion of all caisson installations, the Berth No. 13 project will now fully transition to the revetment construction stage. As a crucial node in the “Belt and Road” port logistics network, upon completion, this berth will synergize with the already operational Berths 9 and 10. It will drive the Luoyu Operation Area to become one of the largest dry bulk transshipment bases along the southeast coast of China, injecting new momentum into regional economic development. Text provided by Zhang Yuwei
