'Royal Haskoning was invited by the Design and Build consortium to provide the Independent Check of the Marine Facilities Design of the Port. The scope of work included numerical and physical modelling for the confirmation of the port layout, the detailed design of quay walls, bridges, causeways, breakwaters, revetments, the dredging of approach channel and basin and the reclamation of the port island up to the formation level', Project Manager and Civil Engineer, Marco de Groote explains.The project involved approximately 4,600m of quaywalls which were proposed to be blockwork type by the main designer. 'One of the key challenges for the quaywall design was to meet the necessary bearing capacity and settlement requirements in the presence of weak rock bearing strata under the foundations of the deep blockwork walls. Another challenge for the quaywall was the seismic forces imposed on the quay where Royal Haskoning relied on its in-house seismic experts to ensure the design was carried out in accordance to the design requirements as specified by the Client - ADPC", Marco adds.The project also includes three bridges - a Highway bridge, a Utility bridge and a Trestle bridge. The Highway bridge has a length of approximately 1,000m and a width of 28.9m and accommodates 2 x 3 traffic lanes and a footpath on either side. The utility bridge runs parallel to the road bridge and has similar length of 1,000m and a width of 27.5m wide. The bridge structure is similar to that of the Highway bridge. The Trestle bridge has a length of 1,800m and is 11m wide. The bridge will also be realised using pre-fabricated pre-stressed concrete girders. 'Another challenge of this project was the location of the port in a sensitive marine environment, Marco added, 'we need to protect the most significant and diverse coral community in the Gulf, due therefore, we have built the port approximately 4.6km offshore, and significant modelling work was carried out to ensure that effects such as increase in water temperature and sedimentation were not to have a negative impact on the marine environment.''Royal Haskoning commissioned Deltares (The Netherlands) and CSIR (South Africa) to do the testing of the breakwater and revetment design. Also, the review of contractors' Boskalis, Hyundai and Archirodon's Method Statements for the majority of the construction works of the project, materials submission of Contractor, review of design changes during construction and the review of the results of reclamation field trials were under the scope of Royal Haskoning', he concludes.Marco de Grootem.degroote@haskoning.ae+971 50 307 0352""A key challenge of this project was the location of the port in a sensitive marine environment, therefore, the port was built approximately 4.6km offshore, and significant modelling work was carried out to ensure that effects such as increase in water temperature and sedimentation would not have a negative impact on the marine environment.Marco de Groote, Project Manager and Civil Engineer - Royal HaskoningImages: Khalifa Port Industrial Zone Developmentrangeinternational >> 17

Amongst the 191 countries worldwide, Oman is one of the most-improved nations over the last 40 years. Royal Haskoning has been active in the region since early 2000 and has recently underlined its further commitment to the Sultanate by opening up an office in Muscat. Since this was established in April 2010, our number of permanent staff have grown. Furthermore, Royal Haskoning staff are working on several project sites throughout the country like Sohar, Sidab and Duqm. Business prospects in Oman look promising.Oman Seas ofOpportunitiesOman General Manager, Martijn van den Berk, spent seven years in the UAE, and compares the two neighbouring countries; "Most of the work we carry out is for the Oman Government, which is interesting and challenging at the same time, Martijn elaborates. "The fact that some of our current projects, like for example the development of Duqm Port has the continuous interest of the Ministry and requires a large variety of port planning and engineering expertise, allows us to share our capabilities with senior client contacts on an almost day to day basis. This has contributed to Royal Haskoning being recognised as an experienced consultancy that delivers quality projects in the Sultanate", he added.Of particular note is the high level of organisation of new projects run by the Government. "Oman has adopted a very transparent system for tendering and awarding contracts, including online advertisement of competition and bid prices, which allows for regular benchmarking of our services in the local market", Martijn explains.Another element that is firmly embedded in the Oman business environment is the so-called process of 'Omanisation'. This implies that it is mandatory for companies doing business in Oman, to hire and train locals, a serious attempt by the Government to develop a sustainable Omani work force 10-15 years from today. >> 18rangeinternational