Kingston Harbour

VINCI Construction Maritime et Fluvial has delivered to CMA CGM the extension of Kingston Harbour and the restoration of existing quays.

This quay restoration and extension of Kingston Harbour can accommodate 3.6 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) compared with 1.4 million previously. This has enabled the largest cargo ships, Post-Panamax, to dock in the region since the opening of the new locks of the Panama Canal.

Using an innovative technical variant, the teams succeeded in bringing the docks in line with seismic standards while preserving the entire existing structure: they built a continuous wall of underwater metal piles, the upper part of which is 14 m deep, at the toe of the quay wall. This project thus provides a retaining function to enable the quay to withstand the strongest earthquakes and the pressure exerted by the water displaced during the berthing of the Post-Panamax cargo ships. Ashore, 2,000 piles were driven to a depth of 34 m and connected to existing beams to reinforce the quay.

Thanks to 50,000 m2 of new port paving, the port can support the heavier loads of the new handling equipment, while specific anchors enable the cranes to withstand hurricanes.