NEWPORT HARBOR FLOATING BREAKWATER - NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND 



Breakwater Type: Timber Caisson FB 



Operational Life: This breakwater is scheduled for construction in 1981. 



Contact: Neill Gray 



Newport Yachting Center 

 Commercial Wharf 

 Newport, RI 02840 

 (401) 846-4994 



Builder: Wakefield Branch Company 

 Wakefield, RI 

 (401) 884-5277 



Operator: Same as contact 

 Site Details 



Water and Bottom Conditions: The structure is located in saltwater above a 



gently sloping bottom composed of mud and silt. Depth at mean low water 

 is 5.5 m (18.0 ft). The tidal range is 1.5 m (5.0 ft). 



Exposure: The site is exposed from the southwest with a fetch of 2.0 km 

 (1.1 nmi) . 



Typical Storm Conditions: During a typical storm, prevailing winds are from 

 the southwest with speeds between 45 km/hr (24 kn) and 65 km/hr 

 (35 kn) . Storm waves are from 0.6 m (2.0 ft) to 0.9 m (3.0 ft) in 

 height. Such storms occur frequently each year. 



Worst Storm Conditions: During a worst storm on an average year, winds will be 

 from the southwest through the west and will reach 80 km/hr (43 kn) . 

 Seas will be 1.2 m (4.0 ft) high. 



Currents: The maximum current speed at the site is 1.6 km/hr (0.9 kn) . 



Breakwater Details 



Purpose: This breakwater will protect the Newport Yachting Center, the site 

 for several internationally known in-water boat shows. This facility is 

 operated from late spring to early fall. The FB will be in operation from 

 May to October and will be stored inland when not in use. The breakwater 

 will also serve as a set of docks for the boats on display. It is 

 designed specifically for the purpose of knocking off the surface chop to 

 a 0.6-m (2.0 ft) wave height--a design transmission coefficient of 

 approximately 0.65. 



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