Survey Bycatch of the day: One of the Phoenix caissons

Survey Bycatch of the day: One of the Phoenix caissons

Survey bycatch of the day: One of the Phoenix caissons that were built especially for the D-day landings during World War II. These caissons were constructed by contractors along the British coast, towed across the English Channel and sunk off the Normandy coast to form the breakwaters around the Mulberry artificial harbours.

This caisson never made it to Normandy and was probably brought down by the Germans during the transportation. It is made of reinforced concrete and measures an impressive 60x15x20 metres. After the war, eight Phoenix caissons were repurposed in the Netherlands to close several gaps in the Zeeland dykes after the North Sea Flood of 1 February 1953.