15 JULY 2014Sapa press release
Sapa partners in exciting ‘floating bridge’ concept in Norway
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
3 min read
Sapa is a partner in a Norwegian project aimed at finding innovative technical solutions for deep and long-span fjord crossings. Its task is to develop an all-aluminium ship barrier for the initiative “Ferry-free coastal route E39.”
Today, E39 consists of 1,000 kilometers of coastal route and eight ferry crossings. Politicians want a ferry-free route and upgraded transport corridor stretching from Kristiansand in the southern part of the country to Trondheim in mid-Norway.
The less-complicated fjord crossings have already become ferry-free, however, the more extreme deep and wide crossings remain. One of these, the crossing of Sognefjord, represents a prime example of the challenges in finding solutions and technical advances for crossing such fjords.
Sapa, together with their partners, are now in a phase of identifying new technical solutions for the project. The company’s task is to develop a unique design for an aluminium-based ship barrier.
The research project is partly funded by The Research Council of Norway. In addition to Sapa, the project partners are Reinertsen AS (project owner), Snøhetta Oslo AS, Dr. techn. Olav Olsen AS, Deep Ocean AS and Norsk Hydro ASA. The research project is set to conclude 2016.
Floating tunnel
The concept consists of a floating bridge with a submerged floating tunnel at mid-span, which is likely to be the first of its kind ever put to use. It is designed to allow unhindered passage for ships in and out of the fjords.
In conjunction with the crossing, a new mooring concept for floating bridges with no direct seabed mooring has been suggested (Reintertsen patent, WO 2013/191558 A1). This "artificial seabed" consists of pre-tensioned pipes across the fjord at a water depth of 30 meters, moored to each of the shores.
This proposed concept utilizes proven mooring technology from the offshore oil and gas industry, where the mooring of floating platforms was found economically advantageous in deep-water exploration.
Landmark in aluminium
Sapa’s Jonas Bjuhr says he finds the project exciting and promising for the future.
”The ongoing research builds on our experiences from the automotive, marine and offshore markets. We are proud to be working with this fascinating project alongside our partners. We aim to create a landmark that will characterize the landscape of the future,” says Bjuhr, product development director for Sapa’s European extrusion organization.
The research related to the project presents a pioneering and innovative approach to deep and long-span fjord crossings, and is very different compared to conventional air-spanned bridges. For some of these crossings, the innovative concept could be more cost effective than traditional bridges.
Today, E39 consists of 1,000 kilometers of coastal route and eight ferry crossings. Politicians want a ferry-free route and upgraded transport corridor stretching from Kristiansand in the southern part of the country to Trondheim in mid-Norway.
The less-complicated fjord crossings have already become ferry-free, however, the more extreme deep and wide crossings remain. One of these, the crossing of Sognefjord, represents a prime example of the challenges in finding solutions and technical advances for crossing such fjords.
Sapa, together with their partners, are now in a phase of identifying new technical solutions for the project. The company’s task is to develop a unique design for an aluminium-based ship barrier.
The research project is partly funded by The Research Council of Norway. In addition to Sapa, the project partners are Reinertsen AS (project owner), Snøhetta Oslo AS, Dr. techn. Olav Olsen AS, Deep Ocean AS and Norsk Hydro ASA. The research project is set to conclude 2016.
Floating tunnel
The concept consists of a floating bridge with a submerged floating tunnel at mid-span, which is likely to be the first of its kind ever put to use. It is designed to allow unhindered passage for ships in and out of the fjords.
In conjunction with the crossing, a new mooring concept for floating bridges with no direct seabed mooring has been suggested (Reintertsen patent, WO 2013/191558 A1). This "artificial seabed" consists of pre-tensioned pipes across the fjord at a water depth of 30 meters, moored to each of the shores.
This proposed concept utilizes proven mooring technology from the offshore oil and gas industry, where the mooring of floating platforms was found economically advantageous in deep-water exploration.
Landmark in aluminium
Sapa’s Jonas Bjuhr says he finds the project exciting and promising for the future.
”The ongoing research builds on our experiences from the automotive, marine and offshore markets. We are proud to be working with this fascinating project alongside our partners. We aim to create a landmark that will characterize the landscape of the future,” says Bjuhr, product development director for Sapa’s European extrusion organization.
The research related to the project presents a pioneering and innovative approach to deep and long-span fjord crossings, and is very different compared to conventional air-spanned bridges. For some of these crossings, the innovative concept could be more cost effective than traditional bridges.
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