BAM signs Xbloc license agreement with Bouygues for large Calais Port Expansion

The Calais Project is the third Xbloc project which will be carried out together with Bouygues, after successful projects in Reunion Island and in Dunkerque. With Xblocs of 4, 6, 10, 12 and 14 m3, the project comprises of the largest block sizes applied so far. These large blocks are needed to protect the new breakwater which will be built in a very exposed environment with extreme tidal currents and wave conditions. The largest blocks in the project have a height of  3.5 meters and weigh 33 tons each.

The design of the breakwater is prepared by Arcadis and physical model tests are carried out by DHI in Denmark in order to confirm  the design. The production of roughly 110.000 m3 Xblocs will start in February 2016 and placement is expected to continue until 2018.

A very informative video of the whole Port Expansion can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj3PwW49q2o.

Xbloc

Xbloc is an innovative and patented concrete armour unit which has been developed by BAM for shore protection and breakwaters and has successfully been applied on various locations around the world since 2004. Xblocs have a high hydraulic stability and offer a large cost reduction. The structure requires considerably less concrete compared to other armouring systems and furthermore the units can be placed faster. Through this innovation breakwaters with Xblocs are more cost effective and sustainable than traditional breakwaters.

Further information: BAM Infra: Bart Hogenbosch, marketing-communicatie, bart.hogenbosch@bam.nl, 00 31 (0)6 20 41 26 61.