Caladh Mor, Ireland
Inish Meain is one of the Aran islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean, on the west coast of Ireland. The existing ferry pier at Caladh Mor was exposed to high wave conditions. This pier has been extended, and two breakwaters have been built to provide wave protection.
The design has been done by RPS Consulting Engineers. Construction has been done by SIAC. The breakwaters are armoured by Xbloc armour units. The Xbloc armour units have been cast on site by Concrete Inis Meain. The harbour at Caladh Mor is the second Xbloc breakwater project in Europe.
The harbour has been opened officially on November 3, 2008 by Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív and Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Éamon Ryan.
In 2009 the project has won the 2008 Irish Concrete Society Award for overall excellency.
The Xbloc project at Caladh Mor is the second Xbloc project designed by RPS
Location
Project milestones
Start of Xbloc production
July 2007
500 Xbloc units produced
August 2007
Start placement
October 2007
Breakwaters completed
October 2008
Harbour officially opened
November 2008
Irish Concrete Society Award 2008
March 2009
The 2010 Aran Lifeboat Challenge
August 2010
Project details
Hs
4.5 m
Length of shore protection
200 m
Size of Xblocs
4 m3
Number of units
2,240
