Abstract
Whole life costing (WLC) is probably the best tool available, provided that the input is sensible and the output tempered with engineering judgment. However, in general, there appeared to be a lack of information about the cost of maintenance and shutdown activities. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain data of the type needed to allow the application of WLC.
In the present worth method, costs are discounted to the present point in time at a reasonable rate of return that is generally the discount rate. WLC of a port structure concerns the costs of construction, maintenance, shutdown and demolition. The cost of shutdown can be many times higher than the engineering costs of maintenance work. The discount rate and the cost of shutdown are dominant factors in the economic appraisal of port structures.
In this paper, in accordance with the PIANC WG31 report, data for WLC, the discount rate, and the costs of shutdown and maintenance are considered, and an example of life cycle management (LCM) in the port of Kamsar (Guinea) is shown.
