Civil Engineering

Faculty of Engineering & Islamic Architecture

Port Planning
(3-1) general:
The most important elements to be studied for port planning are:
1) The approach channel leading to the port entrance; its
shape, depth, width and planning.
2) The port entrance.
3) The water area necessary to make the movement inside
the port easy.
4) The vessel berths; planning, occupied area, depth and
water front.
5) Roads, crane ways and railways.
6) Transit sheds and the storehouses.
7) Navigation aids.
8) Repair & maintenance structures.
(3-2) Factors affecting port planning:
I- Ship characteristics:
The important information about ships frequent the port is:
1) Length, width and ship draft in case of carrying
maximum cargo.
2) The maximum projected area above water level.
3) The empty ship weight and maximum permissible
weight (dead & gross loads).
4) The expected number of ships using the port.
5) Type and weight of cargo.

II- Harbor type:

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Faculty of Engineering & Islamic Architecture

Concerning the location nature, harbors are classified into:

1) Natural harbors: they are harbors having their water area
formed without the need of man-made works.
2) Semi- natural harbors:
In these harbors the water area is formed partly by nature and
partly by man-made structure.
3) Artificial harbors:
They are constructed in the open sea and protected from the
effect of waves by means of breakwaters or those that may be
created by dredging.
.
III- The purpose of constructing the port:
The ports are classified from the point of view of the purpose
of construction into the following:
1) Commercial port: in which berths are provided with the
necessary facilities for loading and unloading cargo. Dry
docks and maintenance structures are sometimes provided.
2) Military harbors: They exist for the purpose of
accommodating naval vessels, they are called naval bases.
3) The refuge harbors: They may be used solely for ships in
a storm, or it may be part of a commercial harbor. The
essential features are good anchorage and safe and easy
access from the sea during any condition of weather.
4) Free harbors or zones
It is an area within which goods may be landed, stored,
mixed, repacked manufactured, and reshipped without
payment of duties and without the intervention of customs
officials
IV- Type of Soil Forming the Sea Bed.
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Civil Engineering

Faculty of Engineering & Islamic Architecture

V- Natural Phenomena at Harbor Location.

VI- Shape of Shore line & Water Depth at the
Harbor Location.
(3-3) Planning of approach channel:
The main conditions to be fulfilled for the approach channel
Planning are:
1) It is preferred that the approach channel to be straight at the
entrance
2) Two successive opposite curves are not allowed (alignment
must not take the S- shape).
3) The curve radius is not less than 6 times the length of the
longest ship or 900 meters.
4) The visibility distance should not be less than 800 meters.
5) In case of changing the channel direction, it is preferred to
use short tangents connected by short curves; the length of
the curve increases with the increase of the angle of change
of direction.
6) At the intersection of the two inner tangents, the width of
the approach channel is increased by 3.3m for each 1 0
increase in the angle of change of direction.
7) Direction of the channel to be in the same direction of
winds and currents.
Buoys: They are floating markers which are anchored in
their proper locations and may be lighted or unlighted in
accordance with the required purpose of each type. Buoys are
painted in accordance to their location and use. The purpose
of the buoys is to guide the ships safely through channels and
harbor entrances into harbors and to their berth or anchorage.
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Civil Engineering

Faculty of Engineering & Islamic Architecture

Lighthouses: Are tall tower structures with a marine light

lantern on top. They are usually erected on points along the
shore to guide shipping to a nearby port, as well as on reefs,
shoals, or other points of danger to shipping. They are usually
constructed of masonry and are built to withstand heavy wave
action and weather. The lighthouses must be high enough,
because of the earths curvature, so that the beacon lights may
be sighted by approaching vessels at a considerable distance
offshore.
(3-4) Width of approach channel:
The factors affecting the calculation of the approach channel
width are:
1) Ship width and ship velocity.
2) The harbor need for one-lane channel or two-lane
channel.
3) The depth of the approach channel.
4) The approach channel planning.
5) The stability of the side slopes of the channel.
6) Winds, tides and waves
(3-5)Depth of Approach channel:
The Depth of Approach channel must include the following:
1) The maximum draft of a ship passing the channel when it
is fully loaded at the lowest low water.
2) The effect of ship squat when it is in motion, y1=0.6m:
1.5m. As the ship velocity increases the value of squat
increases.
3) The effect of pitching and rolling due to waves, y2 is
assumed = 2.0m: 2.5m.
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Civil Engineering

Faculty of Engineering & Islamic Architecture

4) The under keel clearance, k assumed between 0.6m and

1.2m.See figure (3-1)

SHIP DRAFT

SHIP

Channel depth
S.W.L.
SEA BED
Y1+Y2+k
CHANNEL WIDTH
Figure (3-1): depth of approach channel (Ref 4)

(3-6) Planning of the Harbor Entrance:

The design elements:
1) Determination of the entrance location.
2) Determination of the entrance width for the safety of ships
movement.
3) Determination of the depth at entrance.
4) Determination of the of the overlap length of breakwaters at
entrance.
Usually the entrance width is taken equals to the greatest value
of, the maximum ship length and the approach channel width.

(3-7) Water area of the port :{ Turning Basin}. See

figure (3-2) :
The number and size of ships using the harbor will determine
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Faculty of Engineering & Islamic Architecture

the size of the water area to a large extent.

Generally the water area is to be kept as smaller as will permit
safe and comfortable operations to take place.
The minimum harbor water area is the space required for the
berths plus the area of the turning basin in front of them.
The size of turning circle is that one with a radius equal to twice
the length of the largest ship, but the minimum size of turning basin
is with a radius equal to the length of the ship.
The use of tugs to assist the maneuvering of the ships in docking
may also influence the size of the water area of the harbor. (Ref 4,5, D)

Figure (3-2): water area of the port (turning basin)

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