Wave Tech

July 11, 2012 (LBO) - A 5.4 kilometre new breakwater at Sri Lanka's Colombo port is armoured with 20 tonne patented concrete blocks to withstand the worst monsoons in 200 years, an official said. Three new container terminals which are schedule to be built up to 2020 are coming up within a new 375 million US dollar breakwater.



The breakwaters of the existing port were build in the early part of the last century when the country was under British rule.

The break water used 34,000 'Core Loc' concrete units cast over period of four years on site, Kane Satterthwaite, Deputy Chief Engineer, URS Scott Wilson, a UK based engineering design consultancy said.

The 'Core-LOC' is a concrete armor unit originally designed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers to withstand harsh wave action.

Satterthwaite said Sri Lanka has strong monsoons which according to records has shifted a 14 tonne piece of rock in 1876.

He was speaking at forum in Colombo on shipping organized by Seatrade, a shipping policy event management consultancy

The port access had a two way electronically guided access channel to ensure safe navigation.

Concrete armour was used because it was difficult t