Gravity quay wall

A gravity quay wall is a berthing structure that resists earth and berthing loads by its own dead weight, built from stacked concrete blocks, a mass-concrete monolith, or sand-filled caissons founded on a prepared rubble bed. It suits firm seabed where bearing capacity is good, and is favored for deep berths because it tolerates high line loads and abrasion without piles. Design follows BS 6349-2 and PIANC guidance, checking sliding, overturning, and bearing under active earth pressure plus bollard, fender, and surcharge loads. Caisson variants are floated out, sunk, and infilled, cutting in-situ marine work, while blockwork is placed unit by unit by floating crane.