The typical damages of underwater walls in blockwork construction are:

  wall sealing failure (washout of soil backfilling);
  concrete damage.

Repair methods and technologies are determined taking into consideration the type and degree of damages, and in general can include:

  Sealing of vertical and horizontal joints between neighboring blocks by placement of cement mortars in flexible formworks and consequent injection of foaming resins to backfilling;
  Installation of additional reinforcing bars and high-pressure grouting into the formwork in areas of local damage of the concrete blocks;
  Construction of reinforced concrete screen walls at full height of the quaywalls;
  Elimination of underwater erosion at structure’s foot, sea bottom scour protection.

Basic technological operations

Repair works in the underwater zone are performed “in air-dry” conditions, using special underwater equipment - hermetic chamber. Works are performed keeping the structures in operational conditions.


Repair works were carried out in the ports of Tallinn.