Waterborne Construction of Rubble Mound Breakwaters

Breakwaters are wall-shape structures preparing lee side calmness through wave reflection and dissipation(due to diffraction).This calm basin are used in different aspects among them are : mooring , berthing, loading ,unloading and secure operation of vessels and harbor facilities protection. Improving harbor entrance conditions to control sediment transport process is another goal of breakwater execution.Construction costs are remarkably affected by environmental factors mainly referred to as: water depth, weather conditions and sea-bed features.Depending on the situation, breakwaters are commonly erected in two distinct ways: waterborne & land-based. Apart from advantages and disadvantages of either ways, selection of execution method is strongly dependent on some parameters like: operation and commissioning deadlines (as client wishes) and site specific problems .Site position and special condition of each project can either make or solve many construction cost problems. In this paper significant features of land-based and waterborne erection of such structures have been compared .Construction rocedure of Pars Petrochemical Project as a case history of paper and a new experience in Iran (Assaluyeh Port) has been addressed in detail as well as comparing method statement with common construction aspects referred to in the literature of practice. Finally Some useful recommendations will be given in concluding remarks.