Dutch quay

A quay is a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers. Quays, along with docks and wharves, are crucial port assets because their primary function is to transfer goods between different modes of transportation, such as ships and trucks. Ships need to be able to float in a sheltered area close to mechanical loading and unloading devices. Modern vessels, especially larger ones, must avoid contact with the seabed to prevent structural damage.12345

A specific design for quays, known as the Dutch quay, is used when deeper water alongside is required. This design involves driving sheetpiling and then excavating the ground behind it. A reinforced-concrete relieving platform is built at the lowest water level, supported by piles. Filling material is then returned above this platform, reducing the load on the sheetpiling and providing support against impacts from berthing ships.2