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The importance of maintenance in ports

Maintenance is one of the fundamental pillars to ensure the safety, durability, and operability of a marina. Beyond the initial investment in infrastructure, a proper maintenance strategy helps extend the lifespan of facilities, reduce emergency interventions—typically associated with additional costs—and ensure continuity of service for users.

In this context, Almarin participated in the 1st Marinas of Spain Congress held last November in Sotogrande, specifically in the Working Committee ‘C1 Operations and Maintenance’, where it highlighted the importance of maintaining steel piles as a key factor in ensuring the maximum durability of port infrastructure.

Maintenance of critical infrastructure: the role of piles

Piles provide stability to pontoons, gangways, and other fixed or semi-rigid structures. Their constant exposure to a harsh environment—saltwater, currents, waves, and corrosion processes—makes periodic monitoring of their condition essential.

Inspection, reinforcement, or replacement operations allow structural issues to be detected early, prevent major damage, and ensure the safety of the facilities. Experience shows that preventive action is always more efficient than emergency interventions, both technically and economically.

Upgrade of the piling rig

For pile driving operations, Almarin has its own piling rig. To ensure maximum efficiency and safety, improvements have been implemented, including sandblasting, structural refurbishment, and repainting, as well as measures aimed at enhancing both machine and personnel safety. Another major improvement is increased automation, allowing control from the main cabin.

Almarin offers a comprehensive pile driving service using its own piling rig, considered one of the most powerful on the market. This equipment enables the installation of steel piles under a wide range of geological conditions, from sandy and clay soils to natural and volcanic rock, ensuring precise and safe results across all types of seabeds.

Works at Lagos Marina

Currently, Almarin is carrying out the installation of 120 piles as part of the Lagos Marina expansion project, under the coordination of Lindley, the company selected by MARLAGOS for the supply and installation of floating structures, enhancing various marina areas—fishing, sailing, maritime tourism, and leisure.

Almarin and Lindley are part of the Lindley Group, allowing them to combine technical expertise, in-house resources, and a high level of coordination at every stage of the project.

Over the past year, Almarin has worked with Marina Douro, Sadamar, Puerto Deportivo de Ayamonte, among others, on pile inspection and maintenance, resolving issues such as corrosion and perforations, wear and broken decking boards, leaving their facilities as good as new and fully operational.