A rare specialty, built on cross-disciplinary expertise and absolute independence
Independent technical expertise, grounded in real field experience
For more than thirty years, CLAS has been carrying out independent technical expertise on maritime structures, and more specifically on breakwaters with highly interlocking artificial concrete block armour layers.
These expert assessments cover structures in service, under construction, or affected by damage, and aim to establish an objective diagnosis based on direct observation, underwater inspection, and analysis of the actual stability mechanisms of the armour layers.
CLAS operates at the request of owners, Engineers in charge of design, construction supervision and works acceptance, contractors, insurers, or courts, in contexts where technical, financial, and contractual stakes are high.
Objectives of CLAS expert assessments
The expert assessment missions carried out by CLAS pursue the following objectives:
to identify and characterize disorders affecting maritime breakwater armour layers;
to verify the compliance of structures with best practice rules, contractual documents, and applicable technical reference frameworks;
to analyze the mechanisms at the origin of the observed defects (design, wave action, geotechnics, installation, interlocking, underlayer, toe berm, crest);
to assess the possible evolution of disorders in the short, medium, and long term;
to provide independent technical insight to support decision-making.
CLAS expertise is never limited to a partial visual observation. It aims to understand the overall behavior of the structure and the interactions between its different components.
Intervention resources adapted to complex maritime structures
CLAS has specific resources to intervene on breakwaters with artificial concrete block armour layers:
expert inspectors trained in single-layer armour systems,
professional divers specialized in underwater inspections,
mastery of underwater measurement and observation techniques,
above-water and drone-based inspections,
cross-analysis combining field observations, design documents, and hydraulic exposure conditions.
These resources make it possible to intervene directly on the critical areas of the structure, where disorders actually develop and where indirect tools show their limitations.
A rigorous methodology based on established best practice rules
CLAS expert assessments are based on:
international best practice rules applicable to maritime breakwaters (Rock Manual, CEREMA Rock Armour Guide);
the project’s contractual documents and technical reference frameworks;
direct observation of the armour layer, from the underlayer to the crest;
analysis of interlocking mechanisms, bearing conditions, and load transfer between blocks;
specific tools dedicated to non-destructive inspection of artificial concrete block armour layers.
This methodology makes it possible to establish diagnoses based on observable and measurable facts, rather than on theoretical assumptions or approximate numerical reconstructions.
Independence and absence of conflicts of interest: a fundamental principle
Expertise in maritime breakwaters built with artificial concrete blocks is a rare skill, positioned at the interface between design, construction, inspection, and the actual behavior of structures in service.
CLAS operates in complete independence from:
license vendors,
trademark holders,
suppliers of installation or inspection tools,
and construction contractors.
This independence is an essential condition for any credible expert assessment.
An entity that designs, sells, or promotes a technology cannot simultaneously act as an impartial expert when disorders arise.
It is precisely for this reason that CLAS is regularly called upon when a structure requires an objective analysis, free from any conflict of interest.
Formal recognition in sensitive contexts
This requirement for independence has been explicitly recognized in the context of missions entrusted to CLAS on major projects, particularly when owners needed access to high-level expertise, independent from the consortia in charge of the works and from technology holders.
The missions entrusted to CLAS have then consisted in providing:
detailed and well-documented inspection reports,
expert opinions on compliance with established best practice rules,
causal analyses linking observed defects to resulting disorders,
assessments of the likely evolution of identified pathologies,
and, where applicable, targeted audits of quality control procedures.
Unique experience with all types of artificial concrete blocks for maritime breakwater armour layers
CLAS has acquired extensive experience with nearly all artificial concrete blocks used for maritime breakwater armour layers, across all generations and configurations.
This cross-cutting experience makes it possible to:
objectively compare the actual behavior of armour layers,
identify recurrent disorder mechanisms,
distinguish tolerable defects from critical situations,
and propose technical solutions adapted to the real context of the structure.
Results: reliable diagnoses and secure decision-making
CLAS expert assessments enable owners and decision-makers to:
have access to a reliable and independent technical diagnosis,
understand the actual causes of the disorders observed,
avoid unnecessary or inappropriate remedial works,
secure technical, contractual, and financial decisions,
and preserve the long-term durability of maritime structures.
Why engage CLAS for maritime breakwater expertise
Choosing CLAS means choosing:
independent and recognized expertise,
rare and highly specialized experience,
an approach based on direct, real-world observation of structures,
strict compliance with established best practice rules,
and an objective analysis, free from any conflict of interest.
CLAS supports owners, engineering firms, and courts in the expert assessment of maritime breakwaters, with a constant commitment to technical rigor, independence, and responsibility.
