The design of any port (new or re-developed) provides a number of challenges. The port needs to be effective for the entry and exit, and mooring of the vessels. Large ships need sufficient depth all the way to their berth, which may require dredging. Many cargo operations, including container ships, cruise liners and LNG carriers, impose tight limits on vessel motions at the berth. The level of shelter needed may require long breakwaters. The construction of large breakwaters and/or the dredging of a long channel, both expensive operations, may have significant environmental impacts. The designer must therefore balance several conflicting requirements. These difficulties are compounded by the wide range of meteorological, ocean and geological conditions that apply for ports around the world.

These challenges apply to new ports, and to extension or change of use of existing facilities. In both cases the port design will need to be optimised to minimise the whole life cost, whilst being consistent with the requirements for safe operation of the facility. The design also needs to be sustainable under climate change, and minimise any adverse impacts on the environment. There are a range of techniques that can be used to evaluate and optimise the design of the port and address these challenges. In this presentation the speaker will describe some of these techniques, and give examples from port developments across the world.

About the Speaker:

Dr Jane Smallman was the 114th President of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST) serving from March 2016 to March 2017. She is a former Member of the Board of Trustees of IMarEST. She now sits on the Finance & Investment Committee of the IMarEST, and is a Trustee and Chair of the IMarEST Retirement Benefits Scheme.

Jane is also a Non-Executive Director of the Ports of Jersey, and a Trustee of the John Muir Trust. She is a Honorary Visiting Professor at the School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh.

Jane worked at HR Wallingford Ltd from 1984 to 2015, and was Managing Director from 2006 to 2014. As Managing Director she was responsible for a £27m turnover business employing about 270 staff in the area of civil engineering and environmental hydraulics. HR Wallingford is one of the world leading companies in this field. Her responsibility as Managing Director was for the successful delivery of Company’s commercial activities consistent with annual budget and strategic plan. She also had specific responsibility for the development of business in India and the Asia Pacific Region, and therefore has significant experience in International markets. Jane retired from HR Wallingford in January 2015.