1982. Permanent anchorages for offshore structures (PDF)

In construction at sea, there is continuous development of new technologies, research work, and verification of the practical behaviour of structures at their location. A good example of this is the foundation aspect of sea structures. During the first FIP Symposium on Concrete Sea Structures in Tbilisi in 1972, some speakers touched on “the foundation”, and only Ben C. Gerwick mentioned problem areas ranging from clean rock to low-density silts.

Since then, much has been done, specifically in relation to gravity structures in the North Sea and other areas. In 1979, this progress had advanced to the point where a Working Group on Foundations within the Commission on Sea Structures was able to present a State of the Art Report on Foundations of Concrete Gravity Structures in the North Sea.

After this major task, the same group, headed by T. Ridley, continued work in a developing field: “Permanent anchorages for floating structures”. They thereby follow the tendency towards greater water depths, more hostile environments, and the exploitation of short-life new resources.

I hope that this report will help to support — and not hinder — this new field of offshore activities, and that developments are such that at the next congress we can report on a wide range of experience.