The octopod is the support for the guide pile of the future link-span for vehicles of No10 ferry berth.
It is located at the level of the stack, in alignment with the docking and mooring front.
The octopod is a rigid solid mass used as a support at the head of the guide pile, positioned in such a way as to support the forces during operations. It is used with the collar at the end of the link-span and absorbs part of the forces related to the docking of ferries.
It takes its name from its foundation composed of 8 piles, inclined at 17%, to increase its resistance to transverse forces. These are potentially over 400 tons. This specificity gives it an original shape, reminiscent of the Octopus.
These eight piles with a 1.4 m diameter, a thickness of 25.5 mm and a length of 42 m were driven to a depth of “-32 m CM” with a maximum power of 81 kJ hammer to prevent damage to the pile. The upper spade is 8.55 m CM. The unit is equipped with a 263 m3 reinforced concrete headstock that will also serve as a support for a quick release mooring hook.
Works were carried out with:
- two docks,
- two tugs,
- two cranes,
- a vibratory hammer
- two hydraulic hammers
- and a crawler excavator.
