Study on Reinforcement of Fishery Harbor Wharf against the Nankai Trough Earthquake

Abstract

The Great East Japan Earthquake has implied the big potential all over Japan for earthquakes with magnitude 9.0. In the Great East Japan Earthquake, ports and fishing ports played an important role in (1) transportation of emergency supplies after the earthquake, (2) early recovery of marine products lifting and distribution functions. Kochi Prefecture has approximately 713 km coastal-line on which 88 fishing ports are scattered and 46,000 people live in this area. The fishing ports are very important as the life base of local populace for the relief activity, restoration-reconstruction and business continuity plan. The fishing ports are desired to maintain function when subject to the earthquake motion and tsunami of the Nankai Earthquake. In Kochi Prefecture, not only major ports but also fishing ports are proposed to be used as earthquake resistant quay walls in the event of a disaster. This research was executed for the Kaminokae Fishing Village, which is a typical district of the local fishing port in Kochi Prefecture. In the preparation of the earthquake resistant wharf, low construction cost and a short construction term would be anticipated. One of the effective methods for the economical construction of an earthquake resistant wharf is the adoption of the press-in pile.