Development of the Preliminary Dredging Plan for the Vale Ponta Da Madeira Pier Iv Export Facility, Sao Luis, Brazil
Type:
Presented during:
WODCON XX: "The Art of Dredging" - 2013, Brussels, Belgium
Authors:
Nairn R, Dibajnia M, Lu Q, Delaure S
Abstract: Vale S.A. has recently completed construction of the south berth of its new Pier IV iron ore export terminal at Ponta de Madeira, Sao Luis in northern Brazil. The south berth began receiving ships up to Valemax size in March 2013. The north berth at Pier IV is planned to be operational by December 2015. A system of sediment traps has been proposed for Pier IV with the overall objective to provide high occupancy berthing areas for vessels through minimization of maintenance dredging activities of the berth pockets. The design of the sediment traps was undertaken making use of field investigations, morphodynamic modelling and a number of other analysis techniques to determine corresponding CAPEX and OPEX dredging requirements. An extensive monitoring program will be completed through the ramp up period of initial ship arrivals at the south berth of Pier IV through 2013 to optimize the trap design and dredging requirements. This paper provides a description of the existing conditions and the development of the initial sediment trap design.
Keywords: Dredging Plan, Sedimentation, Morphodynamic Modeling, Scour Under Ships at Berth, Sand Waves