As cruise liners continue to grow in size to meet global tourism demand, their increasingly powerful bow thrusters present new challenges for port infrastructure. One of the most significant impacts is the potential for seabed scour — erosion caused by the high-velocity water jets produced during vessel manoeuvring. This was the case at the Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal in New South Wales.
At this cruise berth, the quay wall had developed a scour hole at its toe, putting the existing sheet piles at risk of exposure and structural undermining. To address this issue, 8te2W Kyowa Filter Unit® Rockbags were specified by Consulting Engineers, Haskoning and deployed to stabilise the seabed and restore protection at the wall’s base.
Given the limited working area on the wharf, project logistics required careful coordination. The Filter Unit® Rockbags were filled off-site and installed from a barge, allowing the works to be carried out efficiently while maintaining safe operations between scheduled cruise liner visits.
This project highlights how Kyowa Filter Unit® Rockbags provide a practical, sustainable solution for modern marine infrastructure, offering strength, flexibility, and ease of installation even in the most constrained environments.
📸 Images and project story courtesy of Bluemont