Marina construction continues to be popular due to the increased movement of goods and services across the ocean. There are many different types of marina structures, and they often need to be constructed to withstand waves, heavy loads and inclement weather. Most are made from high-quality concrete, stone, steel and timber to offer this resilience.

Marine structures can be classified into 3 main types:

Berthing structures

In marina construction, berthing structures refer to any construction that is designed to facilitate the safe docking of ships and other vessels while at sea. They are mainly designed to make loading and offloading of goods more efficient at the port. Popular berthing structures include:

Floating docks

Docks are important structures that allow you to safely "park" your boat, ship, pontoon and any other water vessel. These docks can be made of a variety of materials to suit their intended application. For example, concrete docks are useful for larger water vessels such as cruise ships and fishing boats. Wood docks and aluminium docks are suited for smaller recreational vessels such as boats and pontoons.

Piers

Piers play an important role in marina construction. They provide a platform for large cargo ships to dock and load/offload. They also serve as oversight platforms for people who are swimming at sea and are at risk of drowning or being attacked by sharks.

Dry dock structures

Dry docks are complex marina structures that are designed to provide a platform for building/repairing ships. Dry docks are also used to transport items to and from ships via marine railways or cranes.

Dry docks are typically large and sturdy structures built from concrete, steel and stones. They are mostly positioned adjacent to the sea, where they can either float in the water or stand on dry land. As a result, dry docks act as a housing for ships and a stable platform for people to walk on.

Coastal Protection Structures

Perhaps the most important marina structures are the ones that offer coastal protection against strong waves and other sea hazards. Some of these include:

Wave attenuators

Wave attenuators are structures that break waves and prevent them from damaging facilities that are further up the shore. They can be made from concrete or stone to provide a durable platform for wave protection. They can also be modified to break only certain types of waves.

Shoreline protectors

Shoreline protectors are marina structures that are laid out across the shoreline to prevent erosion and items being washed away to sea.

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