Breakwaters Caladh Mor, Ireland
Inish Meain is one of the Aran islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean, on the west coast of Ireland. The existing ferry pier at Caladh Mor was exposed to high wave conditions. This pier has been extended, and two breakwaters have been built to provide wave protection. The design has been done by RPS Consulting Engineers. Construction has been done by SIAC. The breakwaters are armoured by Xbloc armour units. The Xbloc armour units have been cast on site by Concrete Inis Meain. The harbour at Caladh Mor is the second Xbloc breakwater project in Europe.
The harbour has been opened officially on November 3, 2008 by Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív and Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Éamon Ryan.
In 2009 the project has won the 2008 Irish Concrete Society Award for overall excellency.
Project Milestones
| July 2007: | Start of Xbloc production |
| August 2007: | 500 Xbloc units produced |
| October 2007: | Start of placement |
| October 2008 | Breakwaters completed |
| November 2008: | Harbour officially opened |
| March 2009: | Irish Concrete Society Award 2008 |
| August 2010: | The 2010 Aran Lifeboat Challenge |
Project Details
| Hs: | 4.5 m |
| Length of breakwaters: | 200 m |
| Size of Xblocs: | 4 m3 |
| Number of units: | 2,240 |
View a video of the model testing of the breakwater at Caladh Mor:
View a video of the harbour in August 2010 during the start of the 2010 Aran Lifeboat Challenge:
