The second connection made between the Llevant breakwater and the caissons (the foundations of the wharf) of the Balears Wharf of Port Tarragona (Costa Daurada, Spain) gives an identifiable appearance to the brand new Balears Wharf. The advance, to prepare for dredging, allows the overland connection between the two sides of the future wharf.
This 2nd and definitive overland access to the caissons allows the 11 concrete foundations to be filled with material transported by lorry making the task easier. Work also continues on the building of the extrados with a rear stone embankment.
The dredger Ardenza is, in parallel, undertaking the auxiliary tasks of filling the 11 installed caissons. The process will give the necessary consistency and weight to the caissons to support future interventions.
For the next phase, the interior of the future wharf is to be filled with material dredged from the zone between Cantabria and Andalusia wharves. This is expected to allow the dockside depths to be maintained on each infrastructure.
Pipes have been installed in order to allow the release of the water and fauna. This is due to prevent fish from becoming trapped in the enclosure that was formed by the caissons, the 2 rockfills, and Llevant breakwater. As the wharf's interior is filled with the dredged material the water level is expected to rise and the pipes will be covered and become a natural channel.
Tarragona port is studying shoreside power electricity connections in order to supply energy to the auxiliary equipment of the ships moored on the Balears Wharf and this will avoid the use of their internal combustion engines, save on fuel, and reduce pollution while the vessels are tied up in port. The infrastructure is designed to meet the challenges the Port has set itself, including making Balears Wharf a sustainable wharf.
The new wharf is expected to increase the capacity of the port to receive more visitors in better conditions. It will feature a total berthing line of 700 metres, as ships will be able to dock on the Llevant breakwater as well as on both sides along 240 metres of the 460-metre length.
This will allow twice the number of cruise liners to dock simultaneously, as well as being able to receive the world's largest cruise ships.
Port Tarragona has designed the area as a multipurpose wharf able to handle different types of port traffic today and in the future. The priority is to welcome cruise ships and their passengers, an activity hoped to begin in the middle of 2021.
The new infrastructure will feature long operative life and its design is expected to allow it to be converted, if needed, into a terminal for solid bulks and other cargo.