El Puerto Del Mediterraneo

IN the spring 1927 „EL CONSORCIO DEL PUERTO FRANCO DE BARCELONA” published the program for an interna- tional competition for designs for the construction of a Free Port at Barcelona. The time limit set for submission of the designs expired on the 31st of January 1928. As shown by the great number of participants this great and interesting competition has aroused interest throughout the entire technical world. From all parts of the world a total of 54 designs were received, including 10 from Spain, 13 from U. S. A., 9 from France and 5 from Germany, as well as designs from England, Italy, Holland, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Lithuania, Turkey, Brazil and Java and, finally, from Denmark a design with the motto „el Puerto del Mediterraneo" which carried off the highest prize. The conditions for the competition were drawn up in model manner supplying all the needed information concerning meteorological, physical and geological features as well as commercial statistics etc., and a well defined frame was given for what the designs were to cover. The main problems are the construction of the outer harbour and its protecting breakwaters, as well as the inner harbour with basins arranged for various purposes. A commercial harbour has to be built with basins for various commodities, such as coal, grain, victuals and the like, an industrial harbour with special basins for maritime industries, shipbuilding wharves, dry-docks etc., further a special harbour for combustible liquid substances such as oil, benzine and similar pro- ducts, and finally a quarantine harbour and basins for the harbour equipment etc. Such a comprehensive harbour plant requires of course a finely articulated net of railroads and streets with sewers and supply of water and electricity. The quays are to be fitted with warehouses, magazines, silos, refrigerating plants etc. as well as cranes and other mechanical appliances of various construction, all according to the special purposes. Rough estimates should finally be given for the harbour as a whole and more detailed estimates for individual con- structions such as quays and breakwaters. Meteorological and Physical Features. In designing the harbour and especially the breakwaters two main factors have to be considered, viz. the prevailing winds and the wandering of material. The heaviest gales come from East, but also the gales from South are dangerous. The two determining directions of wind form thus an angle of about 90" with one another, whereby it becomes very difficult to protect the harbour in satis- factory manner, and the difficulty is increased by the considerable travel of material to be considered. The wandering of material is mainly due to wind action, while the current, which is not especially powerful, is of se- condary importance in this connection. The resulting direction of the travel of material is generally from NE to SW, be- cause gales from NE are most powerful. The travel of material has always been a constant danger to the harbour. Geological and Geographical Features. Formerly the Mediterranean Sea covered the site of the future Free Harbour as well as a considerable portion of the area now occupied by the city of Barcelona. The Montjuich mountain formed a promontory between two great bays giving 17