TenCate Geosynthetics has received the International Achievement Award of Excellence for design excellence in geosynthetic applications, with its Embraport Container and Bulk Fuel Terminal in Port of Santos, Brazil.

Increased cost

The Embraport Container and Bulk Fuel Terminal was permitted for construction on the north shore of Port of Santos, Brazil, estuary in a tidal zone that would require large volumes of expensive select fill to be imported to reach the design platform elevation.

As a result, through the sediment sampling process, it was determined that the required access channel and turning basin were overlaid with 600,000 cubic meters of contaminated sediments that must be removed and deposited in a secure upland disposal facility. This finding and required action increased the cost and construction timeline of the project.

Economic alternative

TenCate Geosynthetics and Allonda, the TenCate representative in Brazil, proposed to combine the concept of containment within the project site footprint utilising TenCate Geotube dewatering technology to securely contain the contaminated sediments over which the container yard would be constructed.

This beneficial use concept eliminated the requirement for an upland disposal facility, which would require the purchase of additional land for this facility eliminating the 600,000 cubic metres of expensive imported select fill, the company reports.

Sustainable solution

According to TenCate, the implementation of its TenCate Geotube containment and dewatering solution for onsite beneficial use of dredged contaminated sediments, allowed the owner to save more than USD 50 million.

This TenCate concept allowed for the construction to be completed within the allowable time frame, and met all of the Brazilian environmental regulations with regard to removal and containment of the contaminated sediments, quality of effluent return to the native environment and service life of the project.

The carbon footprint was also reduced by 7,903 metric tons of CO2 equivalent by utilising the TenCate Geotube containment and dewatering technology.

www.tencate.com