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Coastal
protection

With its roots in the Netherlands, Boskalis has over 100 years’ experience in coastal protection. Today we design, construct and maintain hard sea defenses such as dikes, dams and flood barriers. In addition, we offer environmentally sensitive soft sea defense solutions through the creation of wave-reducing islands, beach replenishment or the construction of a so-called sand motor to spread sand along the coast from a central replenishment location using natural forces.

Shoring up coastlines around the world

We put our vast experience and expertise to good use protecting coastlines and boosting flood defenses around the world. Ensuring safety while maintaining a well-balanced ecosystem are key. As part of our integrated solutions, we can provide both economic and environmental assessments to ensure the ideal delivery of your coastal protection project.

Climate change, sea level rise and extreme weather are increasing the need for coastal protection around the world.

Our coastal protection solutions

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Creation of wave-reducing island

Positioning man-made islands at strategic locations.

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Creation of sand motor or beach replenishment

Natural forces like tides, wind, currents and waves spread sand along the coast.

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Construction of hard sea defense

We design, construct and maintain hard sea barriers, such as dikes, dams and flood barriers.

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Foreshore replenishment

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Construction of flood barriers

We design, construct and maintain hard sea barriers, such as flood barriers, dikes and dams.

Our projects

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Land reclamation and revetments works, Salam Yiti

Salam Yiti is located near the south of Muscat, about 40 minutes away from Muscat’s international airport, and minutes from the traditional business and hotel district of Qurum. The Salam Yiti development covers 420 hectares of land and climbs as high as 140 meters above sea level. The project is being developed at a cost of USD 1.7 billion. It was scheduled for completion by 2013. The development plan features luxury hotels, state-of-the-art spas, exclusive villas and apartments, and luxury townhouses set on the beach and in the mountains and select shopping and dining outlets, all surrounded by a championship golf course, marina, a wellness and eco-marine center.

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Dredging, reclamation and
shore protection, Soyo LNG

Angola is one of the world’s deep water oil exploration ‘hot spots’. More than 50 significant oil discoveries in Blocks 14, 15, 17 and 18 are believed to contain at least 10 billion barrels of oil. With the increase in oil production comes large quantities of associated gas. Historically, in the absence of a local market, associated gas has been flared or reinjected into the reservoirs. Sonangol, the state oil company, and some of its oil producing partners developed the Angola LNG Project to reduce flaring of gas and curtail gas injection. Angola LNG is a joint venture project involving the major oil producers in the country. Sonangol and Chevron are the co-leaders of the project; the other partners are Total, ENI and BP.

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Port construction, Vuosaari

Vuosaari Harbor is the most significant harbor project in Finnish history; in fact, it is unique even on a European scale. Both existing harbors in Helsinki’s city centre are being transferred to the eastern outskirts of the city. They are being replaced with a harbor with excellent traffic connections that can meet the increasing demand for cargo handling. The Vuosaari Harbor Center will provide a competitive and modern service package, with smooth connections between harbor operations and other logistical facilities. The harbor center will comprise the gate area, the closed harbor area and the adjacent Business Parks. The fairway to the Harbor Center will be 32 km long, at least 200 m wide, and 11 m deep. The port area comprises 150 ha, of which 90 ha will be land reclaimed from the sea.

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Beach replenishment, Newbiggin Bay

Newbiggin by the Sea was once a seaside resort, with the residential area focused around the bay. The beach has severely eroded over the years. If the coastline would continue to recede, sea walls could begin to collapse, imperilling coastline properties. The falling beach levels and increased risk of seawall failure led to a strategy and proposal to import beach fill, along with construction of an offshore breakwater to retain material. Boskalis expanded the existing beach and protected it from erosion.

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Dredging, reclamation,
reconstruction and environmental
monitoring works, Vilufushi

The Republic of the Maldives consists of 1,190 small coral islands grouped into 26 atolls. Only 200 islands are inhabited. On 26 December 2004, a tsunami originating from Indonesian waters struck the Maldives. This natural disaster had major economic, social and environmental consequences. Of the 200 inhabited islands, 13 were totally destroyed and 56 suffered major damage, including the island of Vilufushi in Thaa Atoll. Houses and infrastructure were heavily damaged. All the surviving residents had to be evacuated to the neighboring island of Buruni to the west of Vilufushi. The government of the Maldives decided to reconstruct the entire island and to extend it considerably by landfilling the shallow reef. Boskalis International was appointed for this work.

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Removal of overburden for bauxite mine, Klaverblad

Surinam’s alumina exports accounted for 70% of the total export figures. Aluminum is produced from bauxite and so bauxite mining was one of the country's vital industries. Growing demand for metals in fast-growing economies led BHP Billiton Maatschappij to open up a fourth mine alongside the three bauxite mines they already operated in Surinam. The mine location on the banks of the River Surinam was covered by a thick layer of clay. Borehole information and surveys showed that an area of about 130 ha needed to be cleared of bush, followed by the removal of the top layer and dewatering to an average depth of 14 meters. Safety and the prevention of dredging-related turbidity in the river were areas requiring particular attention.

More infra solutions

Land reclamation

Boskalis reclaimes land, improves soil, protects shorelines and realizes coastal contruction projects.

Environmental services

Boskalis provides a broad range of environmental services including remediation of contaminated land and dredged sediment.

Roads and railways

Boskalis develops, supervises and realizes multidisciplinary road and railway projects.

Inland ports and waterways

Boskalis designs, builds and maintains inland ports and waterways.

Tunnels and bridges

Boskalis designs, develops and constructs bridges and tunnels, providing solutions covering the entire process.