Since starting at the end of April 2011, the Blockbuster has placed almost 2 kilometres of new block dam. Over half of the 3.5-km breakwater is now in the sea. The block dam is an essential part of the hard seawall that will protect Maasvlakte 2 in the northwest against the forces of the sea.
Every week the production increases and ‘ more metres ’ are made because the process is improved even more. The average is now more than 100 metres per week. A total of 20,000 concrete blocks of 2.5 by 2.5 by 2.5 metres, weighing 40 tonnes each, will be reused from the block dam of the existing Maasvlakte. 10,000 concrete blocks have already been laid in place.
The extension of the temporary working lane is also proceeding satisfactorily. Every day it grows another 15 metres towards the connection with the existing Maasvlakte. The ship that brings the stones for extending the temporary working lane only stops working if the sea is running very high.
Those rough waves do not hold the Blockbuster back from continuing to place blocks at a steady pace. The giant crane only finds it hard going when there is a gale blowing.
The supply of stones is on schedule. Well over 5 million tonnes of stone have been delivered from various quarries.
More than 1.7 million tonnes came from breaking up the existing block dam. Around 7 million tonnes of stone will be incorporated in the hard seawall of Maasvlakte 2. It would take a clever wave to deal with that.
[mappress]
Source: Maasvlakte, October 7, 2011