RESTORING OYSTER REEFS with nature inclusive marine infrastructure
While essential to coastal development and maritime industries, dredging and marine construction activities can unintentionally disrupt marine ecosystems. At Van Oord, we aim to deliver solutions for marine infrastructural developments that protect and enhance habitats and biodiversity. Over the past few years, we have explored how nature-inclusive designs can transform traditional marine infrastructure into ecosystem-supporting assets. The reintroduction of the European flat oyster to the North Sea is a key example.
Fehmarnbelt tunnel trench dredging project: a multifaceted sustainable approach
A fixed and direct transport connection between Scandinavia and Central Europe has been an enduring vision for many decades. This vision is now about to be realised with the construction of the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link – an immersed tunnel that will cross the approximately 18-kilometre-wide Fehmarnbelt sea strait between Rødbyhavn in Denmark and Puttgarden in Germany.
Registration open for a NEW ONLINE Course ‘Dredging for Sustainable Infrastructure’
IADC and CEDA organise a new online edition of the “Dredging for Sustainable Infrastructure” course on 10, 11, 16 & 18 June 2025.
Upscaling seagrass restoration with insights from seed-sediment dynamics
Seagrass restoration is increasingly recognised for its potential to enhance biodiversity and contribute to carbon sequestration. However, planting methods are largely based on manual techniques, posing challenges for upscaling and implementation as nature-based solutions (NbS) within the dredging industry. To address this, techniques to combine sediment nourishments with seed-based seagrass restoration are explored. Seed settlement behaviour is investigated via laboratory experiments, analysing seed settling velocities and distribution in various sediment concentrations, revealing the importance of grain size and sediment dynamics. These findings lay the groundwork for innovative, large-scale restoration techniques leveraging traditional dredging methods, with pilot projects planned for 2025.
Artificial reefs in the uae coastline: a sustainable solution for marine bio-diversity
Dredging and reclamation projects have played an important role in the UAE’s rapid development, meanwhile efforts are continuously made to balance progress with marine ecosystem conservation. This paper explores the development of fish domes and 3D-printed artificial reefs, highlighting their role in providing marine habitats, promoting biodiversity and supporting sustainable development. Case studies from Abu Dhabi region demonstrate the effectiveness in restoring marine environment. By integrating innovative reef structures with sustainability goals, the UAE ensures that economic growth aligns with environmental conservation, fostering a resilient marine ecosystem for future generations.
Unsuitable to suitable: a change in the reclamation design paradigm
The availability of suitable sand has become a limiting factor in the development of many ambitious reclamation projects, making the reuse of existing, less suitable materials a critical solution. This subject has been given broader international attention in the past years driven by the shortage of sand resources and by the desire for a more circular society where waste does not exist. So far, only a few examples exist of islands that have been constructed with fine silty or even clayey sediment. In this context, the reclamation with sediments must evolve from an exceptional case requiring special considerations, to a common practice. To favour this practice, an integrated framework is needed where the concepts of suitable and unsuitable are redefined.
INTEGRATING DREDGING IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Adapted from the second chapter of Dredging for Sustainable Infrastructure (2018), this article forms the foundation for this first issue and presents the concept of sustainability in relation to dredging projects. It describes the approaches and practices that are key to creating more sustainable solutions and infrastructure – a modern way of thinking about dredging.
NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS IN BENIN
In early 2018, the Government of the Republic of Benin awarded Jan De Nul a design and build contract to protect a 5-kilometre-long stretch of coastline near the town of Avlékété. The project fits into the government’s plan to turn the local coastal zone, which includes a lagoon, sandspit and beaches, into tourist hotspots. Yet the persistent oceanic swell and chronic erosion required an intervention. This is the perfect starting point for a nature- based structure that offers multiple ecosystem services. Its long-term effectiveness, however, hinges on the support of its end users. Stakeholder engagement was therefore central to the project.