{"data":{"news":{"items":[{"title":"Mr.","date":"2025-07-21 00:01:38","id":5931,"author":"1","blurb":"","blurb_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2025/07/1752978630725_editor_20255101358781 copy.jpeg","blurb_expanded_image_uid":null,"article":"\n\t\n\n\n

South Korean contractor DL E&C announced on 8 May 2025 that it has completed the installation of the final caisson for Ulleung Airport, marking the completion of the runway’s foundation. This milestone comes nearly three years after the first caisson was installed in May 2022. A total of 30 caissons have now been placed.

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Ulleung Airport is located near Sadong Port in Ulleung County, covering a total area of 430,455 sq m. It is the first airport in Korea to be built on an island with no land access by road, shared DL E&C. Since there is no flat land on Ulleungdo to accommodate a 1,200-m runway, the airport is being constructed on reclaimed land.

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DL E&C won the project in a turnkey contract, overseeing the design, procurement and construction. It became the first company in Korea to apply the ‘caisson method’ for airport construction, a technique in which the sea is blocked off with caissons and then filled in.

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Because Ulleungdo is a volcanic island with a water depth of about 30 m, the largest caisson measures 28 m in height, 32 m in width and 38 m in length – the largest in the country, said DL E&C. It weighs up to 16,400 t, equivalent to the weight of more than 10,000 mid-sized cars.

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In deep waters like those surrounding Ulleungdo, incoming waves accumulate energy as they move. This is why DL E&C developed a ‘wave-dissipating caisson’ inspired by a honeycomb structure. The grid-like design creates internal spaces that help disperse the impact of waves.

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To further enhance resistance to wave pressure, the caissons were also designed with a curved shape. Thanks to these features, they can withstand waves as high as 22.6 m (extreme conditions expected to occur only once in 200 years).

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In the middle of East Sea

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Construction in the middle of the East Sea came with many challenges. Due to their massive size, the caissons were manufactured at Yeongilman Port in Pohang and transported to the site by sea.

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The task of moving the caissons to the dock was carried out by an individual pushing caisson carrier vehicle (IPCCV). This specialised vehicle moves along ground-level rails using a system of hydraulic jacks that function like a conveyor belt. A total of 96 hydraulic jacks were used, each capable of lifting up to 250 t.

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The offshore transport faced near-extreme conditions. Each caisson had to be individually towed by barge from Pohang to Ulleungdo – a journey of approximately 210 km. This is said to be the longest caisson transport operation ever conducted in Korea. The total distance covered was around 6,300 km, equivalent to eight round trips between Seoul and Busan.

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To maintain the caissons’ balance and prevent damage during transport, wave heights had to remain below 1.5 m for at least five consecutive days. As a result, the number of weather-permitting days averaged only 10 to 15 per month.

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After each caisson was moved into position, it was permanently installed on the seabed. To support the 16,400-t structure, 60,000 t of rubble were poured to create a stable foundation. Because the rocks varied in size and shape, divers manually filled the gaps between them to complete the base.

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Construction began in July 2020 and as of 8 May, it has reached 61% completion. After completing land reclamation and runway construction – key components of the airport – the facility is slated to open in 2028. Once operational, Ulleung Airport will reduce travel time from Seoul to Ulleungdo from the current seven hours to just about one hour.

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All images: DL E&C

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Construction of the Yeongdong pumped-storage hydro power station in South Korea has started, with its groundbreaking ceremony held on 17 April 2025. Contractor DL E&C secured a contract for this project in August 2024.

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The 500-MW hydroelectric facility will be built over an area of 1.18 mil sq mm in Yanggang-myeon, Sangchon-myeon, and nearby areas in Yeongdong-gun. Scheduled for completion in 2030, the plant can supply power to about 110,000 households.

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“A pumped-storage hydroelectricity power plant requires high durability and stability, since it combines the characteristics of water and electricity,” said DL E&C. “To connect the lower dam and the upper dam, the project includes a daunting task of making a vertical tunnel of 430 m, which is equivalent to an approximately 143-floor apartment building.”

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Over the years, DL E&C has been involved in a number of hydro power and dam projects locally and globally, including the Yecheon pumped-storage hydro in South Korea, Karun Dam in Iran, Gulpur hydro in Pakistan, and Karian Dam in Indonesia, among others.

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The contractor highlighted that with solar power, wind power and other renewable energy gaining traction for its potential to reduce carbon emissions, the demand for pumped-storage hydro power is increasing due to its ability to ‘store electricity.’

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“It works by pumping up the water during the daytime using solar power, followed by the operation of the hydro power generators during the night, when solar power is not available,” explained DL E&C. “Especially with the advances in AI technologies, it is expected that the demand for electricity would surge. Therefore, the construction and engineering industries are paying keen attention as the breadwinner for the next generation.”

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South Korean contractor DL E&C has signed a US15 million construction management contract with PT. Siborpa Eco Power for the 114-MW Siborpa Hydropower project in Indonesia. The plant will be built on the Bilah River located in the northeast of Sumatra island.

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Once completed, this new facility is expected to generate power for more than one million people in the region per year. DL E&C will be responsible for the overall engineering and construction management of the project until August 2030.

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According to DL E&C, the company was selected thanks to its alternative engineering solution. The client’s initial plan for the water channel was to build an underground tunnel stretching over 4.5 km, but this move would have been highly risky due to unstable ground conditions on the island, which is situated on the Circum-Pacific Belt.

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Instead of a tunnel, DL E&C proposed an open water channel (on the surface), enhancing the efficiency of the construction work, time and cost. The client welcomed the proposal, which led to the awarding of this project.

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DL E&C has been involved in hydropower business since the 1990s. In Indonesia, the company also takes part in the construction of Karian Dam, the third-largest dam in the country, as well as the Upper Chisokan Hydropower project, which is the first pumped storage hydropower plant in the country.

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