4. Alaska-Type Floating Breakwater . 



The Department of Public Works, State of Alaska, has constructed and main- 

 tains more than 100 moorage or boat service facilities. Many are quite small 

 and cannot justify large expenditures of funds. Others have poor bottom con- 

 ditions or deep water, which dictates the possibility of a floating breakwater 

 application. The department developed a breakwater unit which consists of 

 twin pontoons connected with cross pontoon sections. This floating breakwater 

 has been installed at a few sites since the early 1970' s. The modular con- 

 struction was developed for ease of transportation to remote sites, and for 

 ease of assembly at the site. The breakwater at Tenakee Springs was completed 

 in November 1972, and the one at Sitka was completed in November 1973. Both 

 these locations are in the island region of southeastern Alaska. Before this 

 time, the sites had been protected by floating log booms which were in danger 

 of breaking apart. Hence, because, of the urgence of the situation, the State 

 of Alaska decided to forego the time and funds required for a full-scale site 

 investigation and invested in a massive configuration which would be studied 

 for prototype performance characteristics. The same basic configuration (Fig. 

 39) was utilized at both locations. 



jC 



T/mber Hfe/e 



*1 



Posttens/on/ng rods 



' t-fr 



I I 



.M 



=M-- 



-4=4== 



*=J: 



■== 





•Transverse rods 



^ 



Ui- 



/5'- O" (typ)_ 



-J 



60'-0" Nom. 



PLAN 



21' - O" 



Pos Hens zoning rods 

 SECTION 



'Neoprene pad 



Figure 39. Alaska-type floating breakwater developed by State of 

 Alaska, Department of Public Works, for installation at 

 Tenakee Springs and Sitka, Alaska (after Miller, 1974b). 



73 



