Dutch coastal project for Van Oord and Boskalis

A €140 million sea defence contract on the northern Dutch coastline has been awarded as a 50:50 joint venture to Van Oord and Boskalis.

The Hollands Noorderkwartier Regional Water Board and the Department of Public Works & Water Management have chosen the joint venture to reinforce and maintain the Hondsbossche and Pettemer Sea Defence from Petten to Camperduin.

The contract involves the construction and maintenance of a new sandy coastline. The project is part of the second national High Water Protection Programme. The contract will be signed on 11 December.

Work will start on the project in early 2014 and will encompass sand replenishment for the construction of a beach and dunes. The new coastal area will also offer room for nature and recreation.

After completing the project by 31 December, 2015, the Van Oord/Boskalis joint venture will be responsible for maintaining the coastline for a further 20 years. The replenishment activities will be carried out with four trailing suction hopper dredgers depositing 40 million m³ of sand sourced from the sea.