Xbloc - Effective ware protection for breakwaters and shores

Breakwater Port Oriel, Ireland

Port Oriel is a fishing port, located on the east coast of Ireland. The port consists of a small inland harbour basin and a pier, both built in 1885. The post will be modernised and the pier will be extended. The civil construction company Lagan Construction is awarded to execute the rehabilitation and extension works. The design was prepared by RPS. Lagan Construction proposed to use the Xbloc® armour unit for both technical and economical reasons.
Port Oriel is the first Xbloc® application in Europe.

Placement grid model

Together with the University of Delft, DMC developed a placement grid model. This was firstly used in Ireland. Placement drawings are derived from this model. It optimises the unit position with respect to neighbouring units. The placement grid is distorted to allow for changing bottom level and curved sections; the model optimises the distorted placement grid.

Project Milestones

July 2005:
Start of unit production
September 2005:             
Droptests
June 2006:
Start of unit placement
August 2006:
Placement of units on round head
February 2007:
Breakwater completed

Project details

Hs 5.7 m
Length of breakwater 170 m
Size of Xblocs® 4 m3

 

Project videos

Project pictures

  • Xbloc breakwater Port Oriel completed
  • Aerial View Port Oriel Xbloc breakwater
  • Xbloc Breakwater under construction Port Oriel Ireland
  • Visit of students of Delft University, November 2009
  • Xbloc breakwater Port Oriel after three years exposure
  • Xbloc breakwater Port Oriel, curved section 2009
  • Xbloc breakwater Port Oriel, November 2009
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