Page 68 - Sinergia 56 | 2020

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DREDGING
AND SAND SUPLY
is strongly conditioned by the work in progress at the breakwater.
This is why we consider that the fact that both works are managed by the same company greatly facilitates coordination, resulting in fewer problems and minimising intervention for the project commissioner.
The alternative solution presents environmental benefits, as it promotes the use of dredging sand, as well as economic benefits, since it implies lower maintenance costs.
The new breakwater will be located off Cabinda Bay, and east of the existing port infrastructure, near the bay entrance.
The dredging work for the creation of the berths, manoeuvre basin and access channel are outside the scope of this project.
On 31 October 2019, MEA was awarded the dredging works at the Port of Cabinda for an estimated volume of 1,500,000 m3.
The dredging and sand supply works should be carried out in a phased manner, leading to an actual operation period of approximately 12 months. The dredging and the supply of sands is
strongly conditioned by the breakwater work in progress, which is why we consider that the fact that both works are managed by the same company greatly facilitates coordination, resulting in fewer problems and minimising intervention for the project commissioner;
The maintenance of the access channel and manoeuvre basin will be crucial
to ensure the port’s regular operation. Breakwaters are structures that, by their nature, prevent the normal cycle of passage of the sands, and are therefore dependent on a periodic maintenance consisting of dredging the bottoms throughout their lives.
This optimisation of means involves
a significant advance on the date of inauguration of the new breakwater of the Port of Cabinda, as well as all the social and financial advantages linked to the start of its operation, considering that