Diagnosis process for the assessment and the refurbishing of port and maritime existing structures

The managers of maritime port structures have to face several issues: ageing of structures, environmental risks, maintenance, adaptation to new equipments and new vessels. The assessment of structures condition is therefore a critical element to help managers to make the proper decisions to ensure a continuous exploitation and to avoid exploitation losses. This assessment is done through a diagnosis which aims to give the objective elements to make the proper choices. After a general presentation, the diagnosis issues are illustrated by the presentation of real studies on a grain dock in La Rochelle and an oil wharf in Guadeloupe Island. In each of these studies, managers’ issues are exposed, and the means and methods used to address them are presented. The conclusions of these diagnoses are then commented, with a focus on linking these specific cases to broader issues and pointing on the difficulties for the assessment and refurbishing of old structures.