Page 128 - Book_Artelia_10years

Extension
of Conakry container terminal

(Guinea)

For me, this is a memorable project in more than one respect. First of all, it is not very often that
a port engineer gets to work on a development project from the initial studies through to final
delivery, and even be invited to the inauguration ceremony.
The sea plays a vital role in Next, the operation involved several of Artelia’s entities and business lines, thus demonstrating
trade and human exchanges. the advantages of the recently created Group’s multidisciplinary expertise. Its maritime
Many African capitals therefore specialists in geotechnical and civil engineering, hydraulics and sedimentology were of course
have a major port that supplies central to the operation. They were responsible for the extension of the existing quay, which
the hinterland and land-locked meant piling up 100 tonne concrete blocks on the seabed in order to build a 15-16 m high, 300
countries on the continent. Such m long structure, 80% of which was underwater. But the project also mobilised other specialists
port infrastructure needs to be who were responsible for the design and supervision of works for all the infrastructure
regularly upgraded, in particular connected with the main reclaimed areas, roadways, electricity, lighting, video surveillance
to keep pace with the ever- system, etc. and who even studied a project for a rail link and a dry port 35 km inland. Our
increasing size of ships, and works supervision team was very cosmopolitan, with French and Malagasy staff from Artelia
especially the container carriers working alongside Bolloré staff from France, Guinea, Benin and Ivory Coast.
that are a vector of global trade.
Lastly, the context was far from simple. We had to exercise extreme caution when working,
as Guinea was suffering from an outbreak of the Ebola virus. We had to overcome numerous
communication problems, as the construction team sent by CHEC spoke only Chinese. And
the site itself also had a few nasty surprises in store for us, in particular the extremely rapid
siltation rate in the area where the breakwater blocks were placed. These difficulties all helped
to build strong bonds within the team, as we had to work as one in order to overcome them.
Finally, on 17 November 2014, the extension was inaugurated by the President of Guinea. Bolloré
were so satisfied that they asked us recently to recommence the studies for the renovation of
the old reclaimed area, which could not be carried out at the time. The project to build the rail
link and the dry port, which did not come to anything at the time, is also still on the cards.

Christophe Peronnard
Deputy Director | Maritime & Ports Business Line | Water & Africa, Middle East

126 I ARTELIA, 10 YEARS OF EXISTENCE, 100 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE