PAPER 2

COASTAL PROTECTION AND SEA DEFENCE SYSTEMS

1.0

Introduction

Why coastal protection and sea defence are required?

The coastal areas need to be protected from erosion and floods. Sea defence structures
constructed provide safe areas for ships to berth and manoeuvre their entrance to the
ports; and protecting the beach areas and the land from flooding. The main influencing
factors on the choice of structure, and the causes of problems in constructing the coastal
protection and sea defence systems is the nature of the site, which can be seen from the
beach profile :
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Access to the working areas i.e. the distances from roads, heights and space
for machineries
Tides i.e. low and high tides and their occurrences
The conditions of the ground i.e. soft or lose ground
High winds and extremely low temperatures
The protection of flora and fauna, etc.

The nature of the site will influence the nature of the structure proposed, and this again
have problems on its own concerning the
Materials used
Construction methods suitable, and
Some works present particular difficulties that require the transportation and handling of
plant of huge magnitude like cranes, hoists, pumps, and barges etc.
2.0

Types of coastal protection and sea defence structures

The very nature of the structures used allow the structures to be conveniently grouped
into two i.e. hard and soft structures
The structures built to protect the land from erosion and flooding are:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)

Sea walls and revetments

Groynes and headlands
Breakwaters
Dykes
Beach nourishments
Vegetation methods etc.

2.1

Sea walls

Sea walls are required to protect

a)
b)
c)

land adjoining from being eroded by the aggressive sea

low lying areas against flooding by the sea
for the purpose of reclaiming land from the sea

The types of sea wall chosen will depend on its circumstances like
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

exposure of the site

materials forming the foundation of the wall
the existence of a beach in front of the sea wall
types of beach
cost of work in relation to the value of the land to be protected

Sea wall ranges from a heavy mass and reinforced concrete or masonry structures to
light timber breastwork to pitched revetment for the protection of the land.