SEDIMENTATION PROBLEMS OF DAMIETTA HARBOR NAVIGATION CHANNEL

摘要

Damietta harbor was constructed in 1982 at about 9.7km to the west of Damietta Nile branch. Its navigation channel is suffering from sedimentation causing hazardous for vessels, cargo ships,...etc, during their passage to and from the harbor. This is in addition to the high costs of periodic dredging operation. This paper presents the main findings of field studies carried out in the nearshore and offshore zones of the harbor. The monitoring results of this study indicate that the sedimentation processes is mainly controlled by waves, currents, configuration and shape of the shoreline and grain sorting processes. The navigation channel, 11km in length is acting as a sediment sink for sediments from different directions. Thus mitigation measure may be taken properly by elongating the two or one of the breakwaters to be submerged or emerged or dredge sand traps on both sides of the harbor to catch the sediments before reaching the navigation channel. The most efficient and optimum solution can be chosen after carrying out mathematical and /or physical model studies in addition to the economic one.