The new quay wall is being constructed using a combined wall, displacement piles, and vibro-piles from Vroom Funderingstechnieken. “We are using vibro-piles with a diameter of 559 mm and a foot of 680 mm,” says Martijn Steenstra, project manager at Vroom Funderingstechnieken. “They are installed in a grid pattern to effectively transmit horizontal forces into the soil. Given the involvement of multiple parties and numerous machines simultaneously operating in a relatively narrow area, precise coordination and collaboration are crucial for the project’s progress.” Nevertheless, this has not deterred Vroom Funderingstechnieken from deploying their hybrid foundation machine for the first time on this project. “Though it is a new machine, extensive testing and simulations were conducted beforehand. The entire team from Hillcon and Materieelbeheer Vroom is on standby to ensure everything runs smoothly.”
For this reason, the existing 1,200-meter-long quay wall is being replaced by a new wall, and the navigation channel is being deepened from 13.5 meters to approximately 17.5 meters. “Due to the scale of the project and the requirement for the existing terminal to remain operational, the project has been divided into three phases,” says Paul Bochem, account manager at Vroom Funderingstechnieken. “We have been awarded the contract for the first (northern) section.”
Please review the animation showcasing the renovation of the Europa Terminal here.
Vroom Funderingstechnieken is a familiar presence in the Belgian market. “We are renowned here as specialists in complex displacement pile foundation works,” Paul explains. “In the past, we have provided the foundation for projects such as the hospital in Liège using vibro-piles and completed numerous wind turbine foundations. This expertise has led to our involvement in this project. We have secured the contract for the first section, which involves driving 709 piles with a total length of 20,397 meters.” Vroom Funderingstechnieken received the contract at the end of January 2023. “It coincided nicely with the delivery of our first hybrid foundation machine. It seemed almost destined, considering Port of Antwerp’s sustainability ambitions. It’s a fantastic challenge for our new electrified powerhouse.”
150-ton extraction force
According to Martijn, the Hillcon HSCX1500GLS-E cannot be compared to a conventional foundation machine. “The machine can both drive and screw piles, both displacement methods, and is operated via a tablet. It’s a completely different world even for our machine operator. Additionally, the hybrid machine stands out due to its massive extraction force of 150 tons,” says Martijn. Paul concludes, “On May 12th, we took delivery of the machine, which was then transported to the Port of Antwerp. This is the largest investment in more than sixty-year history of Vroom Funderingstechnieken. The second Hillcon HSCX1500GLS-E is currently under construction and will be operational from the first quarter of 2024. As a forward-looking player in the foundation market, we continue to invest in our journey towards an emission-free construction site.”
View a short film showcasing the progress of the activities here.
