Page 86 - ASF Katalog 2018 en

11

DOLPHINS, STAIRS AND GANGWAYS

Dolphins

In engineering terms, a dolphin is a pile or group of piles with fixity in the bed of the watercourse and subjected to a horizontal load.
The bed of the watercourse is generally the in situ soil, the critical horizontal load mostly caused by the impact of a vessel.

Dolphins vary in terms of their construction and function and can be In Germany in particular, dolphins are constructed from sheet pile
basically divided into two groups depending on their purpose: materials. Such dolphins are assembled from between two and eight
sheet pile sections that are welded together over their entire length.
• Breasting dolphins: used for berthing, guiding and deflecting vessels Another variation is the dolphin made from a single tubular section –
and marking navigation channels. These dolphins must be as elastic with thick wall and large outside diameter.
as possible to prevent damaging vessels. Large impact loads are
resisted by the deformation work of the dolphin and the subsoil. Depending on their function, dolphins are equipped with bollards on the
top and sides, mooring hooks or recessed bollards, ladders and plates
• Mooring dolphins: used for mooring and hauling. A rigid design to resist impacts.
is more suitable for this type of dolphin. A rigid dolphin is also
advantageous when casting-off. We fabricate all attachments ourselves and weld them to the
dolphins. Upon request, dolphins can be coated in our works.
The difference between breasting and mooring dolphins is the way
they are measured. Breasting dolphins are designed for the berthing
pressure of a vessel (direct impact), whereas mooring dolphins are
designed for the line pull of hawsers.

Elevation om breasting dolphin from water side

OK Dolphin

4 Sheet piles

Back lamella

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