North Sea defences move on apace

摘要

Defences at Clacton and Holland-on-Sea on the UK's Essex coast were in a poor condition with a severely depleted beach offering little protection - but a 5 km-long coastal scheme is changing that. The project, for Tendring District Council (TDC), was awarded to VBA JV, a consortium comprising VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster, and Atkins, which was set up to secure contracts through the Water and Environmental Management Framework, the third-generation framework for the delivery of UK Environment Agency projects. "As the lead coastal partner within VBA, the works at Clacton and Holland-on-Sea are being undertaken entirely by Boskalis Westminster on behalf of VBA," a Boskalis representative told IHS Maritime. He explained that the 5 km original sea frontage had a promenade with a multitude of sea defences in poor condition. "The low beach levels also limited the seafront's amenity value and, apart from long-term sea defences, the scheme will encourage regeneration in the district," he said.