Posted on July 6, 2026
Giant structures will be positioned in the sea of Jinhae to protect the new expansion of Busan, in a project that combines concrete, heavy logistics, and competition for space in global container routes
South Korea is preparing one of the heaviest phases of the port expansion of Busan. The Jinhae New Port project involves the construction of a 1.4 km breakwater, supported by 20 concrete caissons each weighing 12,561 tons, manufactured to form the maritime protection base of the new complex.
The project is part of a larger plan to transform Busan into a mega-port by 2045.
The South Korean goal is to increase container handling capacity, accommodate larger ships, and compete for position among the world’s largest ports.
The “caissons” mentioned in the project have no relation to funerals. In maritime engineering, the term refers to large hollow structures of reinforced concrete, manufactured on land, transported to the sea, and sunk in a planned location to serve as a base for breakwaters, docks, and piers.
1.4 km Breakwater will be the first defense of the new port in the sea of Busan
Hyundai E&C announced on April 30, 2024, that it received the contract to build the southern breakwater of Jinhae New Port in Busan, with 1,400 meters in length. The construction company stated that it plans to use BIM in the design phase and technologies of robotics and artificial intelligence during construction, mainly for risk control, productivity, and quality on site.
The breakwater is the piece that reduces the force of the waves before they reach the operational area of the port. Without this barrier, docking berths, cranes, container yards, and ships are more exposed to currents, swells, and stoppages.
