Selecting Optimal Marina Configuration with Regard to Mooring Safety and Port Area Water Exchange

The paper considers the configuration of protected port structures and the port gate position as required to ensure the port water area protection from wind waves as well as to provide sufficient water exchange. The object of research is the projected Gelendzhik yacht port located in the Gelendzhik Bay on the north-eastern coast of the Black Sea. Two configurations of protected port structures are compared herein. The wave propagation and water exchange we studied using numerical and physical modeling. The first configuration features the port gates open southeastward. This results in wind waves penetrating the port water area and being capable of forming wave beats which are dangerous for the mooring yachts. The second configuration, a more enclosed one, features the port gates open northeastward. In this case, there is a problem associated with the peculiarities of the wind-wave mode of the area, i.e., the existence of unusually strong offshore winds or “bora”. The paper proposes using SWAN to predict the waves generated by the “bora”. It allows estimating the waves from above. The closeness of the second configuration ensures the protection of the port water area even in “bora” conditions. The port area water exchange differs slightly in the two cases and seems satisfactory. The paper recommends the second configuration based on the results of the presented research.