Physical Modelling as a Tool to Optimise Breakwater Design of the Largest Proposed Pleasure Port in Algeria

Development of pleasure ports has picked its momentum over last decade primarily to accommodate growing interests for marine recreation. Mediterranean region in particular is home to a range of picturesque cruising grounds namely, St. Tropez, Cannes, and Antibes; and is in need of more such venues. Algeria, in line with such developments is eager to provide its best services for recreational travelers. Thus, plans are afoot to develop a brand new pleasure port in Ain Adjroud of Tlemcen Wilaya: approximately 155km west of Oran. The port is expected to receive about 1017 vessels and to be the largest pleasure port of Algeria.

In this context, Lanka Hydraulic Institute Ltd (LHI) was commissioned in 2016 to provide a range of numerical & physical modeling services by Hydro Marine Ingénierie (HMI), Algeria: the main design consultant of Ain Adjroud Pleasure Port development project. The physical modeling work that includes both flume (2D) and basin (3D) assessment of breakwater performance of two proposed layouts is presented in this paper.

Numerical simulations of wave tranquility inside the port basin as well as the sediment transport simulations that assessed the littoral impacts have preferred one layout over the other, as such the physical modeling was used to further attest the preference via flume modelling and to fine-tune the corresponding breakwater design via basin modelling. In particular, the flume modeling helped to identify relative stability and overtopping performances of the two layouts, and established the best layout which is optimized via a basin physical model. The project posed many challenges as the project aims at converting a rugged and cliffy terrain and sediment deficit beach into an attractive, sustainable pleasure port. Given the restricted options available in Algeria for the selection of concrete armour type, traditional Antifer (BCR) units constituted the design. In addition, unavailability of reliable long-term wave and wind information is remedied through data adopted from Wave Watch III global wave model. During the process, a continuing practice of using a wave data source based on ship observations is successfully challenged. The project, in this context, provides a frontier example as to how to negotiate challenges in developing pleasure ports for Algeria and even beyond.