by Theo Leoné
"Each year, a new project opens for tender worldwide. In Europe, we are involved in two of three projects, only not in Norway,” says Martijn Smitt, managing director of Strukton Betonbouw.
Strukton has great ambitions. Strukton has for the first time spread its wings across Asia with a tunnel project in the South Korean Port of Busan. Daewoo, the client, is delighted.
“Why did we opt for Strukton? The design of the 3.2-km immersion tunnel was created by the Danish engineering agency Cowi. Our preference was therefore for a European partner. In the end, we had to choose between Japan and the Netherlands.”
Chief executive of Daewoo, Bo-Hyun Yang who heads up the immersion tunnel project in the waters of Busan, says that trust was the decisive factor. He showed appreciation for the fact that Strukton wished to focus on the maritime side of the tunnel project given its limited experience in Korea. Daewoo is therefore building the eighteen tunnel sections itself – under the watchful eye of Strukton’s shore captain Tom Bartels. Strukton teams will fly out from the Netherlands to transport each of the colossal waterborne shoeboxes over a distance of 40 kilometres to where they will be immersed down to the last millimetre. The name of the immersion commander: Peter Westendorp.
“The Dutch became well-acquainted with Asian culture back in the 16th century,” Mr Yang commends. “The Japanese have a completely different mindset to the Europeans. They keep coming up with new conditions. We know what to expect working with Strukton.” It’s useful to bear in mind that the Koreans are still coming to terms with having been subjected to Japanese rule from 1910 to 1945.
Laying a connection between Busan and the Geoje peninsula seemed like an impossible adventure first. An earlier attempt by French builder Vinci and dredging specialist Boskalis in the 1990s failed. Ten years ago, Daewoo took the initiative over and after going to great pains succeeded in finding a public-private solution. Government promised to assume responsibility for the necessary land expropriation and to take care of compensating the fishermen. With a 43.5% stake, Daewoo assumed leadership over a consortium of eight parties. Other participants include the contractor Daelim (21.3%) and industrial developer Doosan with 13.6%.
“On winning the contract, I only knew Korea by perception,” says Martijn Smitt looking back. “You know about the Olympics, the conflict between North and South, and the role played by Guus Hiddink. And that’s about it. Then you gain further insight. South Korea appears to be a highly developed country with a standard of living that closely resembles that of the Netherlands. Characteristically Asian; really nice. The people are friendly and helpful.”
Smitt says the dry dock where Daewoo is building the eighteen tunnel sections is spic and span. The Dutch could even learn a thing or two. The director is less enthusiastic about the design submitted by Cowi. Why don’t the Danish learn from recent experiences in the Netherlands?
“The Danish design is an old-fashioned replica of the Öresund tunnel. Pity. Dutch technology is years ahead. The Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management and Tunnel Engineering Consultants, in which Haskoning, Witteveen+Bos and DHV cooperate, possess lots of up-to-date knowledge. Use of the Gina profile to connect the tunnel sections, the joining methods, the pre-stressing process – they’re all outmoded.”
Strukton convinced Daewoo to adapt the Danish design on a number of points, in order to enhance efficiency and lower costs. On Smitt’s recommendation, the customary access towers disappeared and a special sub was purchased in the US. The vessel can attach itself with a sucker in order to carry out repairs in the tunnel section via a manhole if necessary.
The immersion operations set to kick off in December have to a large extent become a question of remote control. The immersion commander sets course according to magnetic beacons spread out along the seabed and the continuous data flow from in-house measuring engineers, who know exactly where each piece of the tunnel element is located.
Men from Strukton inspecting the immersed dry dock. In the background, Daewoo builds pylon components for the two huge cable bridges.
Martijn Smitt: “The Danish design is an old-fashioned replica of the Öresund tunnel. Dutch technology is years ahead.”
Source: Cobouw, 23 October 2007