Reducing Wave Impact in North Palm Beach Marinas Without Harming the Seabed: MAADI’s Floating Breakwater Design Explained
MAADI Group’s innovative aluminum breakwaters for Florida marinas, featured in Light Metal Age, exemplify a significant advancement in sustainable maritime infrastructure, offering scalable protection for vessels and coastlines from Canada to the Caribbean. These systems are designed to minimize seabed disruption, aligning with eco-conscious development goals while enhancing resilience against wave impacts. By setting a new industry standard, MAADI’s technology combines durability, environmental responsibility, and efficiency—signaling a transformative shift in how coastal defenses are engineered in the modern era.
A New Generation of Aluminum-Based Breakwaters for Florida and Beyond
The growing need for effective, sustainable coastal infrastructure is driving innovation in wave attenuation systems. As traditional stone or concrete breakwaters present environmental and logistical challenges, a new generation of aluminum-based wave attenuators is emerging as a durable and eco-friendly alternative.
The MAADI Group’s aluminum floating breakwater (FB) system represents a major advancement in wave attenuation technology, combining structural efficiency, corrosion resistance, and modularity. These floating breakwaters are engineered to reduce wave impact in marinas and harbors—especially in hurricane-prone regions like Florida—without obstructing natural water flow or marine life movement.
Designed and built in collaboration with Technomarine™, MAADI Group’s aluminum FBs are now protecting shorelines throughout the eastern seaboard down to tropical islands. One of the most notable installations is at Old Port Cove Marina in North Palm Beach, Florida. Now known as Safe Harbor Old Port Cove, this premier Florida marina underwent a major transformation centered around a state-of-the-art aluminum breakwater system designed to withstand high winds and waves.
This aluminum wave attenuator protects 143 vessels ranging from 20 to 200 feet, with berths starting at 45 feet. The system enhances protection while complementing the marina’s clean, modern aesthetic—making it a standout example of resilient, low-impact infrastructure along Florida’s coast.
Engineered for Strength, Flexibility, and Modularity
The aluminum FB modules use custom extruded hollow profiles engineered for high torsional rigidity and section modulus. These components incorporate internal connection systems and integrated tracks for mounting accessories such as cleats, bollards, and ladders. This flexibility makes the system both structurally resilient and functionally adaptable.
Engineered to perform under storm conditions, the MAADI FB system is designed for wave heights of 3 to 5 feet, with a loading capacity of one kip per linear foot. Flexible joints between 40-foot segments allow controlled movement during hogging and sagging, minimizing stress across the structure.
Lightweight, Eco-Friendly, and Built for Harsh Marine Conditions
Unlike traditional rock or concrete breakwaters, which require heavy foundations and disrupt seabed ecosystems, the MAADI system is lightweight, easier to install, and more environmentally conscious. Instead of chains, pilings are used to anchor the FBs in shallow water—improving stability while reducing lateral sway.
Aluminum’s natural oxide layer provides long-term corrosion resistance, making it ideal for the harsh saltwater conditions found in Florida marinas. This translates to a longer service life with fewer maintenance requirements—key for high-traffic locations like Old Port Cove in North Palm Beach.
A Florida Case Study in Sustainable Marina Design
The Safe Harbor Old Port Cove installation has become a model for sustainable marina infrastructure. As a designated Clean Marina by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Old Port Cove demonstrates how aluminum wave attenuators can provide effective wave protection while meeting environmental benchmarks.
With modular scalability, the system is ideal for both temporary and permanent marina applications—especially in regions prone to tropical storms and hurricanes.
Read the full article by Nancy E. Klein in Light Metal Age magazine for an in-depth look at this innovative project.
Setting a New Standard for Floating Breakwaters
In summary, aluminum-based floating breakwaters offer a high-performance alternative to conventional materials. As demonstrated at Old Port Cove Marina in Florida, MAADI Group’s design delivers an optimal combination of strength, flexibility, and sustainability—setting a new standard for wave attenuation systems across North America and the Caribbean.
Light Metal Age, October 2008, page 57: “Aluminum Provides a Better Breakwater Design” by Nancy E. Klein.
