The first, 2.5-mile-long phase of one of the world's largest breakwaters is to be built at Genoa, Italy, under a $900-million contract just signed with a local consortium. About 100 prefabricated concrete caissons as tall a 108 ft will be seated on a rock foundation placed in water up to 164 ft deep, according to the contractor.
Milan-based Webuild S.p.A. leads the consortium of Fincantieri Infrastructure Opere Marittime, Fincosit and Sidra charged with building the breakwater by the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority. A second phase, yet to be funded, will raise the breakwater’s length to 3.9 miles, allowing vessels twice the current size to access the port.