JETTIES,

WHARVES & PIERS

INTRODUCTION
The units at a port that helps the process of

loading & unloading of cargo & passengers are:

Fixed units:

In the form of stationary platforms known as

Jetties, Wharfs & Piers
Movable units:
In the form of Cranes, Conveyors, Escalators,
Vacuum pumps etc
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JETTIES
Structure in the form of piled projections
Built out from the shore to deep water
Berth on one or both sides & sometimes at the end.
Constructed of steel, concrete or rock.

Contd.
Should be suitably located w r t prevailing
currents
Should be designed to resist berthing impact of
vessels
Jetty face should be with a cushion ,fender
Jetties are constructed either in the sea or river
In rivers, scouring action is prevented by
diverting current from bank & navigation is also
controlled.
In the sea, the jetties are provided where the
harbour entrance is affected by littoral drift / the
sea shallow for long distance.
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Contd.
Exposed to severe wave action & the structural
design is similar to breakwater.
Helps to prevent long shore drift & slow down
shore erosion.
Impact of berthing ships will depends on: skill of
berthing officer, local condition of currents, wind
etc.
Berthing velocity depends on the condition of
approach ,wind etc & it decreases with increase in
the size of the ships.

TYPES OF JETTIES
Depending on the method of construction
Cylinder
Screw

type jetties

piles & screw cylinder jetties

CYLINDER TYPE JETTIES

Constructed with cast iron & reinforced concrete
cylinders
Cylinder of cast iron should have length not less
than 5ft
Diameter to ensure adequate working space up to
6ft
Reinforced concrete cylinders should have a length
of 5-6ft

SCREW PILES & SCREW CYLINDER JETTIES

Suitable for situations in rivers and estuaries

where there is considerable depth of alluvial
deposits
These are of solid steel of either 6,8,10inch
diameter.
Length 20-30ft
Joined together in several ways.
Essence of joint is to properly transmit the
screwing torque and to provide a sound and
axially true connection to sustain the vertical load
imposed on the pile.
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WHARVES
Landing places/platforms in the form of walls
built near shore for vessels to berth
It may be a sheet pile wall, a piled projection or a
gravity wall
structure includes berths, piers, warehouses

Contd.
Parallel to shore & abutting against shore
Level of wharf should be above high water level
Should properly braced and bolted
In case of large vessels provide rounded corners
The type of vessels to be accommodated
depends on length of wharf & water depth
Single wharf with a single berth where
capacity is sufficient
Multiple wharves - for more capacity
Pier, raised over the water is used where the
weight/volume of cargo is low.
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Design of wharves involves these factors

Provision

for berthing of ship

Handling

and storage of cargo

Terminal

facilities for rail & truck transportation

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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHARFS &

JETTIES
Wharf is parallel to shore & jetty is perpendicular

to shore or breakwater
Wharf has berth on one side only but jetty may

have berth on two faces

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PIERS
Structure projected into ships basin at right
angles or oblique to the shore
Constructed with piles, columns and braces

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Contd
In sea, the pier is constructed where the sea is
not deep & natural harbour is not convenient
Length should be sufficient to accommodate
longest ship
Width should be sufficient to allow easy
unloading of cargo

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Piers consist of two parts

The floor
Made with timber for small piers & concrete
or RCC for large piers
The supporting part
It include foundation and substructure
Foundation: raft foundation, stepped footing
or pile foundation
Substructure: the supporting part between sea
bed to bottom of floor

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Design of piers involves these factors

The LL for pier design depends on nature of
anticipated cargo & shipping.
No space for storing cargo.
The horizontal thrust on pier head is taken as 1%
of the maximum weight of the vessel to be
berthed.
Water depth at the pier should provide a min of
300mm clearance under the keel of a fully loaded
ship with reasonable provision for a low tide.

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Types of piers
According

to the principal purpose

Working piers
Pleasure piers
Fishing piers

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Working piers
For handing passengers and cargo
Working piers are of two types
Longer individual piers
Found at ports with large tidal ranges
Economical alternative to impounded docks
Finger piers
Built at ports with smaller tidal ranges
Give a greater available quay length for ships to
berth against compared to a linear littoral quayside

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Pleasure piers
For tourists to promenade over and alongside the
sea at all times.
Include amusements and theatres as part of the
attraction

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Fishing piers
Many piers are built for the purpose of providing
boatless anglers access to fishing grounds that are
otherwise inaccessible

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Trestle pier
Substructure is totally framed & floor is of timber
vertical and inclined bearing piles
bracing piles to connect bearing piles
Fender piles to resist impact of vessels

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Types of trestle pier

Pier with central fill:
Substructure of trestle is partly coverd by
degraded materials
Pier with central mound:
Substructure of trestle is fully covered with
central mound
Increases strength of substructure

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REFERENCE
1. Text book of Harbour dock and tunnel
engineering by R.Srinivasan
2. Web sources

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Thank you!

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