GEOBEST INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN OF CABRITS MARINA IN DOMINICA

Geobest is involved in the design of the Cabrits Marina in Portsmouth, Dominica. The extensive project includes the dredging of more than 300,000 m³ of material, the construction of breakwaters and the development of a marina accommodating 105 boats, including mega yachts. The project is expected to be completed in early 2027.

As part of the project, Geobest is involved in the interpretation of the ground investigation, the stability assessment of the slopes within the harbour and the breakwaters, as well as the design of retaining sheet pile walls and pile foundations for the marina pontoons.

The geotechnical conditions at the site are challenging. The area originally consisted of a mangrove swamp with very soft sediment layers, with the ground level approximately at sea level. The site was subsequently raised and preloaded to reduce settlements and improve the strength of the soft underlying soils. Very hard rock formations are present beneath the soft soil layers, creating an additional challenge for the installation of both piles and sheet piles.

In addition, Dominica is located in a seismically active region and is susceptible to earthquakes. The various structures have therefore also been assessed under seismic loading conditions.

To gain a better understanding of the geotechnical challenges at the site, Roy Henri de Booij visited the project location in 2025.

The works are being carried out by Intrepid Marine Ltd. on behalf of Range Developments Ltd. Structural and marine engineering consultancy is being provided by Delta Consultancy & Coaching BV.

This project is an excellent example of how Geobest’ s expertise in construction on soft soils, geotechnical structures and complex marine infrastructure can be applied to challenging projects – from the Netherlands to the other side of the world.