New Cubipod^® Armoured Breakwater in Hanstholm; Design and Construction

The expansion of the Port of Hanstholm, located on the exposed North Sea coast of Denmark has been carried out from 2017-2020. The port expansion features a new large western breakwater in 9-13.5m water depth with 15t to 32.5t Cubipods^® as main protective armour. The breakwater head towards the harbour entrance is established by a large prefabricated concrete caisson (40x22x18m). Detailed design of the breakwater, the largest ever built in Denmark, was carried out by COWI A/S for the marine contractor Per Aarsleff A/S, who won the port expansion design-build contract. This paper presents the design consideration for the new western breakwater, including considerations of different breakwater concepts and details on why Cubipods^® in one layer was eventually chosen as the preferred armour for the breakwater.