Marine Geotechnical Study for the Northern Expansion of the Port of Valencia

The geotechnical campaign for dredging will facilitate a subsurface exploration and environmental analysis of the seabed, providing fundamental information to develop a solid and durable infrastructure.

Client: Port Authority of Valencia
Location: Valencia, Spain
Year: 2024
Joint venture: Ensaya, Intercontrol and GEM

The port of Valencia, together with Sagunto, will become one of the largest railway terminals in Spain.

Designed to meet high environmental standards, this infrastructure will contribute to reducing the circulation of trucks on the access roads, promoting rail freight transport and relieving traffic in the area. To achieve these objectives, SOCOTEC has been selected to lead a detailed study of marine geotechnics in the dredging areas, providing a solid basis for the design and construction of the new port facilities.

This project seeks to analyse the seabed through an exhaustive geotechnical study and an environmental characterisation of the subsoil. The research will allow the collection of essential data for the construction of a robust and durable port infrastructure, designed to integrate a railway terminal that will boost freight transport and decongest access traffic routes.

Talk to our experts

Iván Caparrós

Geotechnnical Survey Director

ivan.caparros@socotec.com

Ramón Pérez

Geologist and Business Developer

ramon.perez@socotec.com

SOCOTEC SERVICES

Geotechnical actions carried out in the port of Valencia

Complete Geotechnical Investigation: SOCOTEC will carry out a series of field, laboratory and cabinet work for the characterization of the complete layer of materials to be dredged. This includes deep sample collection using jack-up offshore platforms and the use of advanced drilling equipment to ensure extraction without limitations on depth or hardness of the ground.
Laboratory Tests and Analysis: The samples collected will be subjected to an exhaustive analysis process in the laboratory. Physical, chemical and biological tests will be carried out to determine the suitability of the dredged materials, in compliance with the DCMD regulations and, if necessary, with the ITEA. This detailed analysis will ensure that the materials are compatible with the intended use and with current environmental standards.
Preparation of Technical Documentation and Reports: SOCOTEC will prepare detailed lithological columns, data banks with the results of the tests, technical reports and plans necessary to document each stage of the project and ensure transparency and accuracy in the characterization of the seafloor.

Complete Geotechnical Investigation: SOCOTEC will carry out a series of field, laboratory and cabinet work for the characterization of the complete layer of materials to be dredged. This includes deep sample collection using jack-up offshore platforms and the use of advanced drilling equipment to ensure extraction without limitations on depth or hardness of the ground.
Laboratory Tests and Analysis: The samples collected will be subjected to an exhaustive analysis process in the laboratory. Physical, chemical and biological tests will be carried out to determine the suitability of the dredged materials, in compliance with the DCMD regulations and, if necessary, with the ITEA. This detailed analysis will ensure that the materials are compatible with the intended use and with current environmental standards.
Preparation of Technical Documentation and Reports: SOCOTEC will prepare detailed lithological columns, data banks with the results of the tests, technical reports and plans necessary to document each stage of the project and ensure transparency and accuracy in the characterization of the seafloor.

The project will be developed in accordance with the Guidelines for the Characterization of Dredged Material and its Relocation in Waters of the Maritime-Terrestrial Public Domain (DCMD) and the Technical Instruction for the Environmental Management of Marine Extractions (ITEA), complying with all applicable regulations for the characterization and relocation of dredged material.

This geotechnical study is an essential step for the sustainable expansion of the port of Valencia and Sagunto. It will contribute to optimising national rail logistics and reducing the environmental footprint of freight transport, while ensuring a modern, safe infrastructure committed to environmentally responsible development.