Context
Between 2023 and 2024, Balineau carried out mooring works for a floating commercial vessel in Saint-Germain-de-la-rivière.
The floating barge in question, the Péniche du Mascaret, is a 50 m long, shallow draught, flat-bottomed vessel. The barge is moored to two dolphins by collars, and access from land is via two gangways supported by headframes fixed to piles.
The whole project has been designed around a natural phenomenon: the tidal bore. This is a series of waves created when the waters of a river meet the tides of the oceans. This phenomenon can be observed on the Dordogne during seasons with high tidal coefficients, generating waves that can sometimes be several metres high.
Balineau intervened on two occasions using river works techniques:
- During the first operation in June 2023, the two guide piles as well as the headstocks and piles for the footbridges were installed. The fixed part of the footbridges was then installed and connected to the headstocks.
- During the second operation in June 2024, the barge was brought to the site and moored to the dolphins. The mobile part of the footbridges was then installed.
The manufacturer Métalu built the aluminium footbridges, which are almost 35m long.
La Péniche du mascaret is now a reception hall with a rooftop that can host all kinds of events in a unique setting. For more information and bookings, visit lapenichedumascaret.com.
Presentation of the works
The docking station consists of two dolphins and two gangways installed by nautical means. A crane was installed on a pontoon and brought to the site. Once on site, the four piles were vibro-driven: the 2 dolphins were 23m long and the 2 piles supporting the footbridges were 18m long.
The headers were then placed on the piles before the fixed part of the footbridges made by Métalu was installed. Given the site’s position on the Dordogne, the whole structure was designed to withstand a high tidal range, which is why the footbridges made by Métalu are in two parts: a fixed part and a mobile part that adapts to the level of the river.
The barge was then brought to the site to be attached to the dolphins using mooring collars. The mobile part of the footbridges was then connected to the fixed part on one side and to the barge on the other.
The entire docking station was designed to withstand the forces of the tidal bore waves. This had an impact on the position and orientation of the barge, as well as on the forces supported by the dolphins.
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