Thousands of onlookers yesterday witnessed the arrival of the world's largest floating dock in Monaco harbour. At 352 metres long, 28 metres wide and 19 metres high, the concrete structure is of pharaonic proportions. Although it weighs 163,000 tonnes - 16 times the Eiffel Tower - this marvel of engineering is hollow, has a double hull and floats like a ship.
The purpose of the dock is two-fold: to protect the present harbour from the east wind and sea swells, and to enable Monaco to receive big ocean liners. Until now, cruise ships had to drop anchor offshore. The dock doubles the size of Monaco's port, which will be able to accommodate 700 boats in 2003. It contains a four-storey parking lot for 400 cars, as well as garages for ship maintenance. Eight anchors will hold it in place; each link in the chains weighs 100 kg.
The dock left Algeciras, Spain, where it was built by a consortium of six construction companies, on August 12th and was towed 1,480 km by a 30,000 horse-power tugboat. Aside from its colossal size, the most innovative thing about the dock is the articulated joint which will connect it to a one-hectare platform built from concrete cubes and landfill.
"It is approaching the platform very slowly now," said Mr Philippe Serenon, of Bureau Veritas, the consulting group that certified every stage of the project. The dock is now 20 metres from its destination. Using ballast, it will be lowered until its eight-metre wide, 770 tonne knob - likened to a knee-cap by engineers - reaches the socket it is to be "plugged into".
"It has to be within two centimetres for the male and female parts of the joint to fit perfectly," Mr Serenon continued. "They are scheduled to be hooked up in the first week of September." This delicate operation - also a first in engineering history - can take place only in perfect weather.
Monaco is in an earthquake zone. In the event of a major tremor, the articulated joint would break free and the dock would float 20 metres away, held by two safety chains to the platform, undamaged by aftershocks.
Seven hundred labourers and 40 engineers worked for three years to build the dock, platform and the jetty opposite. The principality, which spent €334 million on the project - 25 per cent more than planned - demanded that it be guaranteed for the next century.