Author(s): S. M. Gouloumis; C. I. Moutzouris; G. Liokalos
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Keywords: Inspection and maintenance of harbor works; Underestimatedwave height; Deformation of the armor; Undermining of the seawall¡¯sfoundation; Underwater investigation
Abstract: Inspection and maintenance of harbor works are essential in order to reassure port¡ˉs operation, most significant for any island. The port of Heraklion city located at northern Crete Island, South Aegean Sea, Greece, is one of the greatest harbors of Greece, servicing much of the island¡ˉs sea transportation. It has been formed in stages during the20th century by a breakwater, partly armored with tetrapodes experiencing extreme waves of about 6.00 m. high, not complying with the design wave of5.00 m. high. Ground survey as well as underwater inspection using a Remote Operated Vehicle prove damages of tetrapodes and sections¡ˉdeformation of the armor. Since Heraklion harbor nowadays has to service bigger ships than ever before, there were severe indications that undermining of the seawalls foundation was going on. Thus, the port authorities¡ˉ engineers decided to have underwater investigation of the seawall between Dock I and Dock II, where a sewage pipe was flown. Even though the sea was very dirty, with the help of the spotlights of the Remote Operated Vechicle (R. O. V.) system, the image transmitted from the camera was clear enough and very helpful to investigate the situation. The seawall foundation was found to be extensively eroded to the point that some columns of concrete blocks just stood in place because of the friction between them. The underwater inspection was proved to be most helpful to the authorities¡ˉ engineers since they can guide the surveillance in real time as they were diving themselves, recording everything for later investigation. The performance of the armor¡¯s tetrapodes seems to be very much alike stones under the same situation.
Year: 2001