The current phase of the Haifa Port expansion project, designated Carmel Port — Phase A, includes construction of 2,000 m of quays, two roll-on/roll-off ramps, reclamation of approximately 270,000 sq m of land, and the addition of a container terminal. The project also includes dredging to accommodate the largest Post-Panamax container ships and modern high capacity general and bulk cargo vessels. Future staged development will ultimately increase the capacity of Haifa Port to 20 million tons of cargo annually. It is anticipated that the expanded Port will serve as a distribution point for goods not only for Israel, but for the entire Middle East. In order to address the above issues during the design, comprehensive geotechnical investigations were carried out to obtain sufficient data to develop the most cost effective design. In addition, several alternatives for the quay design were evaluated, taking into account operational considerations, technical merit, constructability, and both capital and maintenance cost. The structural alternatives included both open and closed quay alternatives. Specifically, high level platforms, low level relieving platforms, sheet pile bulkheads, double pile walls, gravity walls, and concrete caissons were evaluated. The most cost effective design solution was then selected, taking into account all of the above issues.

The vulnerability of port waterfront structures to seismic ground motions of moderate intensity has been demonstrated during numerous recent earthquakes around the world. In most instances the damage to quay walls is manifested as limited deformations, as opposed to catastrophic failures or the collapse of structures. Although these permanent deformations are often repairable, the economic losses sustained by the ports due to business interruption during repair and reconstruction is commonly viewed as unacceptable by many port authorities. In light of the economic risk associated with limited earthquake-induced deformations of waterfront structures the development and application of seismic performance criteria is becoming routine in the design process for ports in regions of low- to moderate-seismicity. This paper addresses the seismic design of quay walls for a proposed major terminal in such a region, with an emphasis on performance-based design concepts and the construction costs associated with specific quay configurations and requisite soil improvement for mitigation of seismic hazards. The primary factors contributing to the selection of proposed waterfront structures for the final design phase of the project included: (1) the allowable deformation limits of the quay walls structures established by the design team in consultation with the port authority; (2) the cost associated with construction of the specific wharf alternative and soil treatment satisfying the seismic performance criteria; (3) the anticipated seismic performance of the proposed waterfront structures and ancillary components; (4) coastal engineering considerations such as wave characteristics in the harbor and ship motion; and (5) design-life considerations. The structural and construction factors have been optimized from a cost-benefit standpoint in a manner that satisfies the seismic performance criteria for the terminal.