EXTENSION OF THE NAVIGATION CHANNEL TO THE HARBOUR OF ROSTOCK. INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE DESIGN OF BREAKWATERS AND ENTRANCE CHANNEL

The future development of shipping traffic (both bulk carriers and ferries) to Rostock Harbour will necessitate an extension of the entrance of the navigation channel. Special conditions in this area must be considered: recreation, tourism, watersports and landscape criteria; nautical conditions for large scale shipping; and environmental impact. The purpose of this investigation was to develop a breakwater system which would allow ferries and vessels up to 250 m length, 40 m beam, and 13 m draft to reach the harbour of Rostock. The breakwater system must fulfill the following requirements: protection from rough seas; favorable nautical conditions; improved traffic control; acceptable ship induced loads; no detrimental change to the present coastal longshore current; no appreciable change in the landscape, such as obstruction of the view to the Baltic Sea; no detrimental effects on tourism; and economical construction and maintenance.