GANSBAAI FISHING HARBOUR - THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A BREAKWATER ON A HOSTILE COAST

Abstract

This paper describes the design and construction of a fishing harbour on a rocky coastline exposed to the prevailing south westerly swell of the South Atlantic and to severe westerly gales. Because of economic pressure the first phase of the development was undertaken without adequate knowledge of the wave regime or the topography of the sea-bed in the area and resulted in a virtually unusable harbour. The second phase of construction was therefore only embarked upon after extensive hydrographic surveys, wave recording and analyses, and probably the most exhaustive series of model tests ever undertaken for such a small project. These investigations and the good co-operation between research staff, engineers and contractors resulted in the elimination of most of the initial problems and the creation of a functional fishing harbour,