Marine Construction® Magazine

  • Home
  • RESOURCES
    • EQUIPMENT
    • MATERIALS
    • MANUALS
    • SERVICES
    • LEGAL
    • EDUCATION
    • SAFETY
  • SUBSCRIPTION
    • PREVIOUS ISSUES
  • ADVERTISING
  • WEBINAR
  • VIDEOS
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG
  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
MCMag NEWS
  • Crane Cracks and Fatigue   |   Sep 25 2023

  • The Marine Construction Magazine Conversation with … Women in Engineering    |   Sep 22 2023

  • Alternative Power Trends at The Utility Expo   |   Sep 20 2023

  • Harnessing the ShibataFenderTeam fender system’s safety potential to support offshore wind power supply   |   Sep 20 2023

  • Crowley, BWXT Debut Nuclear Power Generation Vessel Concept   |   Sep 20 2023

  • Funded Alternative Energy Projects Announced – U.S. Department of Energy Map   |   Sep 20 2023

 
You are at :Home»BLOG»FLOATING DOCKS PREVENT SEVERE DAMAGE TO BOATS DURING HURRICANES

FLOATING DOCKS PREVENT SEVERE DAMAGE TO BOATS DURING HURRICANES

Sep 17 2020 BLOG Comments Off on FLOATING DOCKS PREVENT SEVERE DAMAGE TO BOATS DURING HURRICANES 2082 Views

Recreational boats moored at traditional docks have a bumpy experience during normal weather conditions, not to mention when a hurricane hits. By design, a traditional wooden, concrete or metal dock is stationary while the boat moves back and forth with the water. During severe weather though, the boat can crash into the dock, sustain severe damage, and could even be destroyed. Floating docks may solve this costly problem.

Similar in construction to a raft, floating docks combine lightweight, buoyant materials to create moveable platforms to which boaters can secure their valuable vessels. A floating dock drifts with water currents, but only as allowed by its anchoring system. The waves caused by mooring and launching of boats, for instance, move the dock only slightly—making it very easy to board.

Traditional, fixed docks are much different. They are built of rigid wood, composites or steel and are anchored by beams secured to the floor of the bay or sea. The stationary design makes fixed docks useful for loading or unloading commercial cargo containers.

However, the traditional design makes docks more susceptible to damages during severe weather, like a hurricane. A storm surge may submerge a stationary dock, washing away deck boards and railings. Pieces of the broken dock can turn into underwater or windborne debris. The underwater debris may damage the hulls of moored boats, while windborne debris can strike the deck above. Should a stationary dock collapse, the corresponding damage to secured boats may be considerable and the dock itself can be reduced to wreckage.

The design of floating docks greatly reduces the problems of traditional ones. Floating docks are tethered in place by a posttension or whaler cable system. The cables attach to pilings below and allow the dock to ride up or down with the water level. Essentially, a series of pontoons are bounded by long wooden or steel slats on either side, and then anchored to pilings.

Pilings hold the whole thing in place so it is semi-rigid but has elasticity and shares the stress along multiple points. The components are designed so that, should some part of the dock come adrift, it will float away like a raft rather than having submerged elements that break apart causing damage.

Another benefit of the floating dock is how the distance between the dock and the boat remains equal, despite the rising and lowering of water caused by tides. Additionally, they are able to withstand tidal surges and also serve as a breakwater for the shoreline.

Lastly, pricing is generally nearly equivalent between floating and fixed docks.

2020-09-17
MCMag
Twitter Facebook linkedin Pinterest Email Print More

Authors

Posted by : MCMag
Previous Article :

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR FLOATING DOCK PILES

Next Article :

MOORING SYSTEMS AND FLOATING DOCKS

Related Articles

Let’s Talk Safety: Diver Loses Strength in Cold Water  

Let’s Talk Safety: Diver Loses Strength in Cold Water  

MCMag Jul 31 2023
Working Over Water and Lifting Equipment

Working Over Water and Lifting Equipment

MCMag Sep 30 2020
WasteShark, the plastic-gobbling water robot  

WasteShark, the plastic-gobbling water robot  

MCMag Sep 20 2023

Advertisement

Current Issue

Current Issue of Marine Construction Magazine Volume IV 2023

Previous Issue

Previous Issue of Marine Construction Magazine Volume III 2023
Marine Construction Magazine Logo Marine Construction® Magazine publishes Six (6) Issues per year, once every 2-Months. We are by no means your typical publication. With over 30,000 readers, we pride ourselves on covering the topics of “actual usefulness” to our readers. Yes, we are a little unorthodox but…we like it like that. The bottom line is, if you are in the Marine Construction or related industry…you’ve come to the right place.

Random Posts

  • Sacramento Tower Bridge Fender System Replaced with 238 HSL

    Sacramento Tower Bridge Fender System Replaced with 238 HSL

    MCMag Mar 22 2021
  • Sling Safety in Marine Construction

    Sling Safety in Marine Construction

    MCMag Jul 23 2021
  • Hoisting – A Guide to Doing It Safely  

    Hoisting – A Guide to Doing It Safely  

    MCMag Apr 16 2023

Follow us

Sign up for our eNewsletter

eNewsletter Signup Form
© Copyright 2022, MarineConstruction®Magazine. All Rights Reserved