Strengthening of RC Piles of Jurong Port, Singapore with TYFO^® Fibrwrap^® Systems

Since its beginning in 1965, Jurong Port has grown to become a major and thriving gateway for multi-purpose cargo in Singapore and in the region. Security-wise, the Port has aligned its measures and procedures in line with the international requirements under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, administered by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Besides, the Port’s Container Terminal, which came into operation in mid-2001, has consecutively won the “Best Emerging Container Terminal Operator – Asia” Award at the renowned Asian Freight and Supply Chain Awards (AFSCA) in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Due to its matured aged lifetime, the concrete piles sustaining the Port were damaged due to corrosion.

After the structural investigation of the piers, FYFE Asia found out the spalling concrete jacket was caused by corrosion which had taken place. Moreover, the Port was constructed with the traditional concrete jacketing method to protect from the potential corrosion. However, in experience, these concrete jackets done by this old method can spall again after a few years. It was pointed out that all those piles needed a reliable strengthening method to be retrofitted and protected not to be corroded once more.

Fyfe Asia’s experienced applicator proposed an alternative using the TYFO^® systems as it can be applied directly underwater, saving shutdown time period, and works on the principle of coating structural members to form a durable inert physical barrier by using TYFO^® systems anti-corrosion primers.