Port Autonome de Pointe-Noire (PAPN) is a major seaport located on the Atlantic Ocean, part of the Republic of Congo. It is connected to the capital, Brazzaville, by a 500 km rail link and plays a vital role in regional development, facilitating trade with neighboring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, and Gabon. With over 600,000 containers passing through annually, the port’s traffic continues to grow.

To support PAPN’s ambitious development plans, Dextra collaborated with contractor SAIPEM for the engineering and supply of steel structures for several of Pointe-Noire’s 16-meter-deep quays.

Between 2011 and 2012, Dextra supplied approximately 1,000 tons of Marine Tie Bars in Grade 700, the highest in our range. These higher grades offer better performance-to-steel ratios, allowing smaller diameter bars, which result in savings in logistics and installation.

Dextra also provided Waling Beams installed onto the Combi Walls. These beams act as an interface between the steel walls and the large-diameter tie rods. Since the Waling Beams support the rods, their shape, spacing, and installation must be tailored to the tie rod configuration. To ensure compatibility and streamline the installation process, Dextra always recommends designing and delivering Waling Beams alongside the tie rod assemblies.

From 2015 to 2016, Dextra participated in a second phase of the project for the construction of Quay D.

The MultiRio Container Terminal, located in the Rio de Janeiro Port, specializes in the import/export of finished goods. To increase its shipping capacity by at least 50%, MultiRio launched an expansion project in 2012 to add extra quay length and accommodate more containers.

To support this pier expansion, Dextra partnered with contractor Andrade Gutierrez for the engineering and supply of Marine Tie Bars.

In 2014, Dextra supplied 100 tons of steel rods in medium diameters M56 and M59. The rods were anchored to the wall using swivel plates and nuts, allowing for 5° multidirectional adjustment.

These plates were positioned onto the waler beams, which were also supplied by Dextra. Waler beams are installed onto the sheet piles, and their design is directly influenced by the chosen Marine Tie Bars solution. For example, the spacing of the beams is impacted by the diameter of the bars and the angle of the rods.

Between the wall, Hinge couplers were installed in line to allow for additional vertical tolerance. This was necessary to counteract ground settlement, which can occur over time due to the heavy cranes operating and the piles of stored containers. The Hinge couplers provided the flexibility needed to accommodate any vertical movement and ensure the stability of the structure.