Definition of the project vessels for the design of maritime port infrastructures

The design of maritime port infrastructure is based on reliable and accurate assumptions that must meet the expected needs and functionalities while complying with current standards and state-of-the-art technology, without forgetting the objectives of sobriety, energy efficiency, and decarbonization. Among the critical assumptions is the definition of project vessels and their associated technical characteristics.

The design of ships used for global maritime transport varies significantly depending on requirements, which depend on the type of goods transported, in order to achieve the best compromise between the quantity transported and economic competitiveness, while taking into account any geometric constraints that may exist on these shipping routes or constraints relating to the loading and unloading of ships. The global fleet is also constantly evolving. In this regard, we can mention the recent evolution of container ship capacity, which has almost tripled in less than 15 years to reach 24,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units), or the current trend in cruise ships, with a paradoxical race towards gigantism that is at odds with the critical state of the oceans. We should also mention the diverse and varied responses to the decarbonization objectives for maritime transport, which will involve profound changes in the coming decades, some of which are already underway: alternative fuels, optimization of the hydraulic and aerodynamic design of ships, sail assistance or propulsion, and electrification at docks.

However, these characteristics associated with project vessels have a greater or lesser influence on the design of maritime port infrastructure, whether in terms of the overall layout of the port or the design of many of the infrastructure and facilities associated with the port. Examples include, but are not limited to: nautical accesses, quays or jetties, mooring and berthing equipment, and shore-side electricity supply equipment.

The World Association for Waterways and Ports (PIANC) regularly and continuously analyzes and summarizes these characteristics through its numerous working groups. The main publication representing this work is the PIANC MarCom 235-2022 report, which updates and replaces the previous recommendations issued in numerous publications over the last few decades.

The diversity of maritime port infrastructure requires in-depth knowledge of other technical characteristics specific to ships, which have been addressed in other recent reports issued by the AIPCN.

The purpose of this article is therefore to enable port engineers to understand:

1. Where can they find relevant information on the technical characteristics of project...