GIKEN SEKO completes installation works at Dakar Port, Senegal

GIKEN SEKO CO., LTD. (Head Office: Kochi City, President Akihiro Nishigawa) completed the installation works using the Gyropress Method ™※ for the Japanese ODA project to renovate the quay walls of the Dakar port in the Republic of Senegal.

The Gyropress Method™ was adopted in this project as innovative technology and drew the attention of ODA related-parties as an excellent example of how the one-of-a-kind Japanese technology contributes and solves construction issues in developing countries. It has been widely publicized in the media and at various seminars, such as the Public Procurement Symposium sponsored by the Society of Civil Engineers in November 2020. In March 2021, JICA Issue Dissemination Seminar sponsored by the Japan International Cooperation Agency（JICA）invited GIKEN to present to construction consultants, general contractors, trading companies, NGOs, local governments and other ODA-related parties.

We expect the success of this project will lead us to further promote the construction methods and technologies of GIKEN.

^* Gyropress Method™ is a unique methodology of GIKEN which uses GYRO PILER™. It installs tubular piles with the assistance of cutting ring bits attached to the pile toe.

■Dakar Port
　Senegal is located at the westernmost point of Africa. Dakar port is a major port for Senegal and the gateway to inland countries. The annual volume of cargo handled by Dakar Port for inland transportation is expected to increase by around 1.7 times by 2022 compared to 2015. However, the third berth was facing deterioration. It was clear there was a significant concern for the potential of collapsing/sinking of the port, with safe handling of the cargo being the primary driver of the works. At the request of Senegal’s government, the repair of the quay walls is being as a Japanese ODA Project.

■Construction Outline
　Two GYRO PILER units simultaneously installed 299 of 1000mm diameter Tubular Piles to construct the 350m long quay wall. 299 of 318.5mm diameter piles were installed between the larger Tubular Piles to fill the gaps to prevent sediment flowing between the piles.

■Background of the adoption of Gyropress Method™

The initial plan for repairing the quays wall was to build up the wall by stacking up concrete blocks. However, this plan required relocating the quay wall 20 meters toward the sea, with concerns raised that it would narrow the wharf and limit the vessel's operating environment. In addition, construction required a large-scale working platform, which posed the challenge of affecting the safety of coastal and cargo handling operations during construction.

With the Steel Tubular Pile wall, the distance between the existing quay wall would only require a minimum of 6 meters.

Gyropress Method™ enables the installation of tubular piles without the need for a working platform as the GYRO PILER can be placed on top of the piles and self-walk. In addition, the cutting ring bits attached to the toe of Tubular Pile enable installing directly into the rock and excluding the need for prior excavation. This removes the need for temporary works, in turn reducing the construction period. These unique advantages led to the adoption of the Gyropress Method™ for this project.

■Future expectations

The aging of ports, harbors and large ocean vessels are creating challenges worldwide. Various restorations are planned in response to this. We feel Senegal has set a significant benchmark for the Gyropress Method and hope to see an increased uptake of the technology globally.

GIKEN Group will continue to build high-quality infrastructure for a safe and secure community through the unique and innovative methodology.

■ Project Overview