Saba News News and Information from Saba Island, Dutch Caribbean
This week, the first 14 X-Blocks arrived on the island, marking another important milestone in the development of the breakwater that will protect our new harbor.
(Photo PES)
Because Saba lacks sufficient local rock and manufacturing capacity for heavy marine armor, the breakwater utilizes a combination of regional and international supplies, including armor rock from St. Kitts and specialized concrete units. Concrete Xbloc armor units for Saba’s Black Rocks Harbor project were manufactured and shipped from Poland, arriving via transit in St. Kitts in April 2026.
Core Physical Dimensions:
- Volume: 14 m³ per individual block.
- Weight: Approximately 35 tons per block.
- Material Density: Standard marine concrete mix with a mass density of approximately 2,400 kg/m³.
- Shape: Single-layer, random-placed X-shaped structure patented by Delta Marine Consultants (DMC). The distinctive angular “X” legs are engineered specifically to provide maximum structural interlocking when placed side by side.
Hydraulic & Structural Design Criteria
- Hurricane Resilience: The 14 m³ size was specifically calculated and chosen to withstand extreme wave actions generated during Category 5 hurricane conditions local to the Leeward Islands.
- Stability Mechanism: Unlike traditional rock armor layers that rely solely on dead weight to resist waves, Xblocs derive their primary stability from hydraulic interlocking with adjacent units. When wave energy impacts the slope, gravity and hydraulic forces pull the blocks together, locking them more tightly into place.
- Slope Placement: The units are engineered for high-stability performance on steep marine breakwater slopes.
- Design Validation: The specific cross-sectional geometry, wave overtopping prevention, and structural response of the 14 m³ blocks were validated using 3D physical wave-tank model testing completed in 2025
Commissioner of Infrastructure & Spatial Development, Bruce Zagers, is pleased to see this important phase of the project taking shape and shares his thoughts with the community of Saba on this significant milestone and the progress being made toward this vital infrastructure project.
Watch the video to hear from Commissioner Zagers and learn more insight on the X-Blocs and their journey to our shores.
