Seismic design for port structures and example of Derince Port

The East Marmara Earthquake which occured centrally in Gölcük in 17th August 1999 (magnitude 7.4) caused lots of fatalities and structural damages that impacts social life and national economy. In this research, first of all berthing structures' design criterias are summerized, seismic design criterias and damage in Derince Port are dealed with. So the reason of damages in this port is tried to find. Damages are taken into consideration with structures' general layer plan and geotechnical conditions. In addition îzmit Bay's geological and hydrodynamic formatin is explained. Derin Port block type berthing structures were designed before 1997 earthquake specifications and site coefficients were taken smaller than the East Marmara Earthquake ground acceleration into calculations. This situations caused smaller factor of safetys. In that case, soil conditions and type of structure with design criterias had effected the seismic performance. Also taken into consideration port structure damages of the East Marmara Earthquake as summerized, the structures that will be planned and constructed in the future should be projected with the coefficients in 1997 earthquake specifications. Gravity type quay walls usually exhibited horizontal displacements towards the sea instead of backfill material quality and liquefaction. In addition this type of structures designed as taken smaller earthquake coefficients cause smaller factor of safety against sliding. This research's aim is to take lessons from EME disaster that is sorrowful for our country. Thus, to constitute basis for the designs that will be prepared against earthquakes in the future and be able to deal with them by minimum hazard. Keywords: Seismic design, port structures, block type quay walls, Derince Port