Pierre Vandamme Lock
Completed in 1985, the lock connects the tide-bound outer harbor with the connection dock in the tide-free inner harbor. It is the largest lock in the port area.
The Problem
The Pierre Vandamme Lock is the primary connection between the inner and outer harbours of the Port of Zeebrugge and is therefore crucial to port operations. After 30 years, the reinforced concrete in the lock basements was experiencing chloride-induced corrosion from long-term seawater exposure leaking through the joints in the aging structure. Over 600 m2 of concrete was damaged and needed repair.
Our Solution
Vector's local representative Fortius/BK International in Diest, Belgium, worked with the contractor and engineer to develop a solution to meet the owner's needs. The concrete repairs were completed with sprayed repair mortars and Galvashield® XPT Type 1A embedded galvanic anodes. Urethane injection and protective coatings were also utilized as a part of a holistic corrosion mitigation solution. To assess service life in future years, a portion of the anodes have been equipped with a monitoring solution.
The Result
Embedded galvanic anodes have been utilized for over 20 years to repair and protect chloride-contaminated concrete. The anodes provide localized protection and mitigate new corrosion sites from forming in areas adjacent to the repairs, thus extending the useful service life of the structure.
Technology Used
These innovative products and technologies were used on this project.