How Geotextile Tubes Are Used in Port Land Reclamation - A Practical Look at Marine Land Reclamation, Geotextile Tube Applications, and the HOKBG Jazan Project
How Geotextile Tubes Are Used in Port Land Reclamation
A Practical Look at Marine Land Reclamation, Geotextile Tube Applications, and the HOKBG Jazan Project
Introduction
Port expansion and coastal land reclamation often require the construction of stable new land in challenging marine environments. Traditional reclamation methods can involve large quantities of fill materials, extensive marine equipment, and complex foundation treatment.
Geotextile tubes provide an alternative approach for marine engineering projects by using high-strength permeable fabric to contain sand or dredged materials, control water, and create stable structures.
This article explains how geotextile tubes can be used in port and coastal land reclamation projects and what engineers should consider when selecting a geotextile tube system.
Key Takeaways
•Geotextile tubes can be used to contain sand and dredged materials in marine engineering.
•Their permeable fabric allows water to drain while retaining solid particles.
•High-strength geotextile tubes can form stable structures for reclamation and marine construction.
•Material strength, UV resistance, permeability, and seawater durability are important when selecting geotextile tubes.
•HOKBG has supplied geotextile tube products for the Jazan Economic City project in Saudi Arabia.
Why Are Geotextile Tubes Used in Port Land Reclamation?
Port reclamation projects frequently involve soft marine soils, large quantities of fill materials, and challenging water conditions.
A geotextile tube can function as a large containment structure. Sand or dredged material is pumped into the tube, while water passes through the permeable geotextile fabric.
The basic process is:
Fill Material → Hydraulic Pumping → Geotextile Tube → Water Filtration → Dewatering → Consolidation
This allows engineers to manage large quantities of marine fill materials in a controlled way.
HOKBG describes geotextile tubes as a solution for land reclamation because sediment-laden water can be hydraulically pumped into the tubes, allowing water to escape while retaining solids and forming stable land structures.
Step 1: Site Investigation and Engineering Design
Before installing geotextile tubes, the project team should evaluate:
•Water depth
•Tidal conditions
•Existing seabed
•Soil characteristics
•Wave and current conditions
•Available fill materials
•Required reclamation elevation
The tube dimensions, arrangement, filling material, and structural design should be determined according to the actual project conditions.
For port reclamation, the geotextile tube system may be combined with geotextiles, sand, gravel, rock, or other engineering structures.
Step 2: Positioning the Geotextile Tubes
The empty geotextile tubes are transported to the designated marine construction area and positioned according to the engineering layout.
Depending on the project, multiple tubes can be arranged in layers or sections.
The HOKBG construction plan for marine reclamation recommends sectional and layered construction, with the tubes positioned and overlapped according to the required embankment configuration. (www.haokangbag.com)
Step 3: Filling the Geotextile Tubes
Sand or suitable dredged material can be hydraulically pumped into the geotextile tubes.
As filling continues, the tube gradually forms a large, stable structure.
The fill material should be selected according to:
•Particle size
•Mud content
•Availability
•Pumping characteristics
•Engineering requirements
Proper filling pressure and flow control are also important to prevent excessive deformation or damage to the tube.
Step 4: Dewatering and Consolidation
One of the major advantages of geotextile tubes is their ability to separate water from solid material.
When slurry enters the tube:
Water → Passes through the geotextile
Solid particles → Remain inside the tube
As water drains, the retained material becomes denser and more stable.
This dewatering process can significantly improve the handling of dredged materials and reduce their volume.
For reclamation projects, this provides an efficient way to manage high-water-content materials before they are incorporated into the final land formation.
Step 5: Building a Stable Reclamation Structure
Depending on the engineering design, geotextile tubes can be arranged to create:
•Cofferdams
•Containment structures
•Embankment cores
•Reclamation boundaries
•Coastal protection structures
HOKBG's port reclamation construction plan describes the use of staggered and overlapping tube layers to form a stable embankment structure, followed by surface protection where required. (www.haokangbag.com)
Saudi Arabia Jazan Economic City: HOKBG Project Experience
A practical example of HOKBG's marine geotextile tube experience comes from the Jazan Economic City project in Saudi Arabia.
The Jazan project was part of Saudi Arabia's major industrial development initiative. HOKBG's published project case focuses on the JIGCC seawater intake and outfall pipeline system, which formed part of the broader Jazan Economic City development.
The project involved approximately 6,600 meters of HDPE subsea pipeline with a 3.5-meter diameter. HOKBG geotextile tubes were used in the marine environment to protect and stabilize the buried pipeline.
How Were the Geotextile Tubes Used?
After the large-diameter HDPE pipeline was placed into a seabed trench, high-strength geotextile tubes filled with sea sand were installed above the pipeline.
The filled tubes formed a large protective structure that helped:
•Cover the pipeline;
•Stabilize its position;
•Reduce the risk of damage from ship anchoring;
•Reduce the risk from fishing trawling activities.
This demonstrates an important advantage of geotextile tubes: the same basic technology can be adapted to different marine engineering requirements, from land reclamation and embankment construction to subsea infrastructure protection.
HOKBG Geotextile Tube Specifications in the Jazan Project
According to HOKBG's published project case, the supplied material was PET high-strength woven geotextile.
The project specifications included:
•Quantity: 80,000 m²
•Tensile strength: 150 kN/m
•Elongation: 30%
•AOS: 0.30 mm
•Water permeability: 817 L/min/m²
•Mass per unit area: 600 g/m²
•UV resistance after 500 hours: ≥85%
•Bursting strength: ≥18 kN
The project required high tensile strength, resistance to salinity and alkalinity, and long-term durability suitable for the harsh marine climate of Saudi Arabia. (www.haokangbag.com)
This is particularly relevant for port and coastal reclamation projects, where geotextile materials may face strong sunlight, seawater exposure, mechanical loading, and long construction periods.
Why Material Selection Matters in Port Reclamation
Not every geotextile tube is suitable for a large marine engineering project.
Engineers should consider several key parameters.
High Tensile Strength
The tube needs sufficient tensile strength to withstand filling pressure, material weight, handling, and long-term loading.
Permeability
The fabric needs to allow water to drain efficiently while retaining the required solid particles.
UV Resistance
If the tubes remain exposed during construction, UV resistance becomes particularly important.
Seawater Durability
Marine projects require materials capable of performing in saline and alkaline environments.
Seam Strength
The connection between fabric panels is critical. Weak seams can become a failure point when the tube is filled and subjected to internal pressure.
HOKBG's marine geotextile tube construction guidance specifies industrial four-line parallel stitching with seam strength reaching at least 70% of the base fabric strength.
Benefits of Geotextile Tubes for Port and Coastal Engineering
1. Efficient Material Containment
Geotextile tubes can contain sand, sediment, or suitable dredged materials within a defined structure.
2. Effective Dewatering
Water can drain through the permeable fabric while solids remain inside.
3. High Structural Strength
High-strength woven geotextiles can provide reliable performance under demanding marine conditions.
4. Flexible Construction
Tube dimensions and layouts can be adapted according to project requirements.
5. Reduced Material Loss
Containing fill materials within a defined geotextile structure can improve material utilization.
Conclusion
Geotextile tubes are becoming an increasingly useful technology in marine engineering because they combine material containment, dewatering, structural stability, and flexible construction in one system.
For port land reclamation, they can be incorporated into cofferdams, embankments, containment structures, and other reclamation systems. Their application should always be based on detailed geotechnical and hydraulic engineering design.
The HOKBG experience in Saudi Arabia's Jazan Economic City demonstrates that high-strength geotextile tubes can perform in demanding marine environments. The published Jazan case also shows the importance of selecting materials with appropriate tensile strength, permeability, UV resistance, and seawater durability.
