OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH FLOATING BREAKWATERS

In the past few years floating breakwaters used for the protection of marina facilities have found increasing application. They provide a cost-effective solution at many potential sites and alleviate the environmental damage associated with more traditional breakwater construction. Operational experience has shown that these devices are effective in reducing incident wave heights where they are not subjected to long-period ocean waves. Experience also indicates suitable construction materials. Problems have developed in providing satisfactory connections between segments, but the large anchoring forces that were originally expected have not materialized in field measurements.