The solutions proposed in the beginning for the selection of quay wall type for the artificial island's front were:
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Solid work with the use of artificial concrete blocks.
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Quay wall with a system of cross-sectional poles.
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Construction of a quay wall with a cellular box caisson.
| The first two solutions were rejected, the former due to the instability of the cross section against earthquakes and the latter due to the prohibitive length of pole (-60.00 m). Finally, following a proposal made by the contractor it was chosen to construct cellular box caissons measuring 18.30 X 9.30 X 11.60 (m) with trusses and cells measuring internally 4.10 X 4.10 (m) placed on a footing measuring 18.00 X 11.80 X 0.70 (m). |
In the meantime, it was chosen to make six (6) circular holes on each front cell, 1.00 m in diameter, placed in three sets of two. The first set will always be above the mean water level and the other two below (relative to the mean water level).
 Intersectional plan |
| Two joints are formed at the sides of the box caissons. The creation of the joints and their grouting with heaped reef concrete serves two main purposes: |
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Avoid leakage of the fine-grained material through the void successive box caissons.
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Create connecting fulcrums between the box caissons. Thus, extra monolithic character is added to the front in cases of earthquake.
