Toe Wall Analysis, Design, Installation, and Trouble Shooting at the Port of Hueneme

To accommodate increasing vessel sizes and improve current throughput, the Port of Hueneme (Port) increased depth at Wharf 1, Berths 1 and 2 while maintaining the current seismic performance of the wharf and slope by installing a submerged retaining wall at the toe of the slope (toe wall). The installation of the toe wall required removing and rebuilding the fender system. The Port took this opportunity to also double the capacity of mooring fixtures and repair the concrete infrastructure, achieving two berths ready to accommodate larger vessels from a depth, berthing, and mooring perspective. This paper will describe the challenges of designing the toe wall, fendering, mooring fixtures, and miscellaneous repairs. It will also highlight the installation challenges that were overcome during the construction such as unique techniques discovered for the installation of composite fender piles in granular soils and dealing with significant sheet pile obstructions.