Shallow water projects: a challenge mastered by Geocean
Working in shallow waters to lay underwater pipelines is a formidable technical challenge. These areas, where natural elements and human activities intersect, demand a high level of expertise and an understanding of their unique constraints. Success in these hostile environments is crucial for connecting land and sea, ensuring the longevity of installations, and preserving coastal ecosystems. But how can these challenges be turned into triumphs?
Shallow waters: a strategic, ecological and economic challenge
Areas near the coast are characterised by tides, powerful ocean currents, and sometimes violent swells and winds. In addition, sedimentary movements constantly modify the underwater relief, making each intervention unique and complex.
These challenges are amplified by the exceptional biodiversity of these areas, where the preservation of local fauna and flora is crucial. Finally, the coactivity on the site—whether it be tourist, artisanal or industrial activities (fishing, navigation, conch farming, etc.)—increases the risk of collisions and involves numerous regulations that must be respected. These factors make shallow waters a demanding and strategic intervention field requiring extensive experience.
The keys to the success of your shallow water projects
Rigorous planning is the cornerstone of successful maritime projects in these environments. Each project commences with a thorough study of the site parameters to identify risks and devise appropriate solutions for tidal ranges. These precise analyses optimise the project’s design. Every detail matters: a miscalculation in evaluating the environmental parameters can jeopardise the pipelines’ planning and integrity. These installations in very shallow water often demand more technical skill than projects in deep water.
Specialised equipment on the foreshore, such as shallow-draught barges, plays a pivotal role in working in this area, which is too deep for land-based machinery and often not deep enough for floating equipment! This equipment, designed for land and sea intervention, enables effective operation in complex conditions. Moreover, coordinating interventions with tidal windows and maintaining a rigorous schedule minimises unforeseen events and ensures smooth execution.
Integrating these practices significantly reduces the risks inherent in shallow water projects, guaranteeing optimal safety for people and equipment and strict environmental respect. These approaches enable meeting customer expectations and position companies as leaders in a demanding and constantly evolving sector.
Geocean: the technical mastery to conquer complex environments
With over 40 years of experience, Geocean is a key player in shallow-water marine works. It stands out for its ability to integrate the multiple constraints inherent to these areas from the design stage, thus guaranteeing project feasibility and success.
Each operation mobilises high-caliber men and women, hired locally or from Geocean’s internal teams, coordinated by reliable management and adapted to the most complex projects. The Kalinda barge operation involved more than 100 people and was managed efficiently, even with limited accommodation infrastructure. The priority given to safety, as demonstrated by achieving the “zero accidents” objective, guarantees an optimal working environment for our teams and partners. This commitment to sustainable and customised solutions reinforces Geocean’s position as a trusted partner for players in the maritime sector.
With 40 years of experience, Geocean has established itself as a leader in installing maritime infrastructure in shallow water, transforming challenges into opportunities. These complex environments become our grounds for success thanks to tailor-made solutions and proven expertise.
