ORCA strategic floating security barriers are an engineered physical protection system designed to protect water areas, port facilities, industrial sites, and strategic infrastructure from unauthorised access from the water.
ORCA barriers are intended to restrict access by small vessels, boats, speedboats, and other floating craft to a protected perimeter. The barrier design combines floating modules, a structural steel frame, above-water and underwater protection elements, as well as a system of cables, ropes, and mesh barriers.
The main purpose of the ORCA system is to create a stable protective perimeter on the water, preventing entry into the protected area both on the water surface and below the waterline. The barriers can be used to protect
- ports;
- terminals;
- militaryand industrial facilities;
- piers;
- shipyards;
- energy infrastructure;
- other high-importance sites.
The design of ORCA floating security barriers can be adapted to specific operating conditions, including water depth, wind and wave loads, shoreline configuration, mooring system requirements, and the need for above-water and underwater mesh protection.
Main Elements of the ORCA Strategic Floating Security Barriers
The main elements of the ORCA strategic floating security barriers offered by our company are:
- an H-shaped spatial load-bearing frame with reinforced structural elements in the form of struts made from thick steel strip, guides for attaching the floats using reinforcements, and transom plates for connecting floating barrier sections to each other;
- two floats made of thick-walled, impact-resistant, and wear-resistant polyethylene with high resistance to ultraviolet radiation;
- a set of heavy-duty collars for mounting the floats;
- a set of vertical posts attached to the spatial frame structure using bolted connections;
- a set of cables and ropes that provide additional holding force to effectively counter boats and speedboats;
- above-water and underwater mesh barriers, which ensure and enhance the effectiveness of preventing small vessels and boats from penetrating beyond the perimeter of the floating security barriers;
- flashing warning lights and reflective marker surfaces installed on the vertical above-water posts of the barrier to ensure navigation safety (per additional request);
- a security alarm system installed on the vertical above-water posts and implemented through the use of strain-gauge sensors, load sensors or mooring system tension sensors, as well as inductive sensors (per additional request).
Main Technical Characteristics
- Floating module length: 5950 ± 50 mm
- Diameter of the float section of the module: 630 ± 10 mm
- Height of the above-water section: 1600 ± 20 mm
- Height of the underwater section: 770 ± 20 mm
Operation, Working Conditions, and Applications
ORCA floating security barriers are designed for operation in marine and port environments where reliable protection of a water area and control of access from the water are required.
The system can be used in both sheltered and semi-sheltered water areas, including ports, harbours, shipbuilding and ship repair facilities, terminals, military sites, energy infrastructure, and other strategically important zones.
The barrier design can be adapted for operation in tidal conditions. When the water level changes, the floating modules maintain their working position on the surface, while the mooring and anchoring system is selected based on tidal range, depth, current, wind, and wave loads.
If required, the system can be equipped with special mooring solutions, water-level compensators, shore attachments, seabed anchors, chains, cables, and additional fixing elements. This ensures stable operation of the barrier both at low water level and during high tide.
For sites with significant changes in water level, the barrier configuration, mooring line length, anchor positioning, and underwater mesh depth are determined individually based on the technical conditions of the site.
ORCA barriers can be used for:
- protection of strategic and industrial facilities;
- restriction of access to port and military water areas;
- protection of piers, terminals, and shipyards;
- creation of a temporary or permanent water security perimeter;
- prevention of unauthorised passage by small vessels, boats, and speedboats;
- reinforcement of site security both above and below the waterline.
The number of cable and rope rows, the parameters of the above-water and underwater mesh, the type of anchoring system, shore attachments, and additional security elements are selected individually depending on the Client’s requirements and the operating conditions of the facility.
