The project
YEAR: 2023
PROJECT: EDF Martigues Breakwater
COMPANY: Guintoli–Buesa
CLIENT: EDF
BLOCKS USED: ACCROPODE™ II
Background
The EDF Martigues breakwater, originally constructed with natural rock armour, had suffered significant damage requiring the complete reconstruction of its armour layer using ACCROPODE™ II units.
The BUESA–GUINTOLI joint venture was awarded the contract and called upon CLAS to provide training, technical assistance, quality control and certification throughout the installation of the ACCROPODE™ II units.
ACCROPODE™ is a registered trademark owned by the ARTELIA group, which is in no way affiliated with CLAS.
CLAS intervened on this project in full independence, making it possible to certify the structure as CLASS A.
The certification file was included in the as-built documentation (DOE) by EDF.
Key figures
- 910 blocks ACCROPODE™ of 3 m³ .
Role of CLAS
The mission entrusted to CLAS was particularly comprehensive and included:
- Training of the joint venture personnel in project-specific safety requirements and ACCROPODE™ II installation techniques;
- Technical assistance during the installation of the ACCROPODE™ II units above and below water, provided by CLAS divers and inspectors;
- Quality control of the orientation, interlocking and overall placement of the armour units;
- Certification of the completed structure.
This integrated approach ensured continuous quality control throughout the works, leading to the acceptance of the structure without reservations.
Result
The objectives set were achieved despite difficult weather conditions.
The structure was protected in only three months and delivered on schedule, without reservations, by the client EDF, which included the CLAS certification file in the as-built documentation (DOE).
Without the presence of CLAS on this project, the joint venture could have been required to reconstruct fully compliant parts of the structure due to erroneous assessments issued by the licence seller. These assessments were based on unreliable survey data relating to the calculated centres of gravity of the ACCROPODE™ II units placed by crane; the data were subsequently demonstrated to be inaccurate and formally invalidated.