An Introduction to Coastal
Engineering in South Africa
Coastal Engineering Short Course
Adapted from presentation prepared
by Dr André van Tonder
NOTE:
This presentation is just for interest
and does not have to be studied
This presentation is just for interest
and does not have to be studied.
What does it mean to be a Coastal Engineer in South
Africa?
What is unique and different about practicing as a Coastal
Engineer in South Africa and other places in the world?
(from a consultant’s perspective)
Is it about recreation? No and Yes!
It is about understanding the might of the sea
It is about being able to understand the impact of the
oceans on the coast
It is about designing, constructing and operating
infrastructure in a marine environment
But there’s no harm in having fun while you’re about it!
In fact I believe it to be an imperative!
Introduction to Coastal Engineering in South Africa
• What is Coastal Engineering?
• Where did it start in South Africa?
• What have been achievements in South Africa?
• How do we impact society?
• Who operates in this industry?
What is Coastal Engineering?
“The application of the physical and engineering sciences to
the planning, design, and the construction of works to
modify or control the interaction of the air, sea, and land in
the coastal zone for the benefit of man and for the
enhancement of natural shoreline resources.”
Effectively: Civil Engineering in the Marine Environment
What makes this form of civil engineering different and
unique?
• Work in water or close to water or even over water
• Water is salty and highly corrosive
• Periodic changing water level
• Wave action
• Wind impact
• Current action
• Marine organisms
• Sediment transport
• Relatively rapid changes to ‘topography’
• Difficult to establish foundation conditions
• Development area may be under water (sometimes)
• Terrestrial vegetation/dunes/etc
• All processes transient/dynamic
Where did Coastal Engineering start in South
Africa?
Table Bay – The Start of Developments 1652
Table Bay: The First Structure 1743
“…here the ships’ boats will be able to tie up for loading and
unloading, so that the men will no longer have to walk up to
their necks in the water as at present. It will facilitate their work
and safeguard their health.”
OR: Historical fish traps (e.g. near Stilbaai)
are of cultural heritage importance & arguably evidence of
some of the oldest surviving SA “[Link]. structures”
(Photo A Theron)
Milestones achieved
• 1652 Table Bay used as port area
• 1743 First major structure: Mole at Mouille Point
• 1824 Durban Bay starts being used as port
• 1837 First jetty at Port Elizabeth
• 1850 Construction of 1st breakwaters at Durban
• 1860 Construction of Alfred Basin commences
• 1893 Opening of East London port
• 1902 First scheduled dredging at Durban starts
• 1905 Victoria Basin gets added in Cape Town
• 1929 to 1945 Duncan Dock and Foreshore reclamation in
Cape Town
• 1933 Main breakwater of Port Elizabeth completed
• 1938 1st Durban beach groyne/protection system
• 1950’s Basil Wilson’s seiching studies, start of formal
coastal engineering studies in SA
• 1960 Dolos armour unit invented by Merrifield
• 1969 Formation of CSIR laboratories in Stellenbosch
Milestones achieved
• 1963 St Francis Marina, 1st residential marina development
• 1972 to 1976 Construction of Port of Richards Bay,
developed primarily for coal export, 1st integrated
environmental studies
• 1973 to 1976 Port development in Saldanha, developed
primarily for iron ore export
• 1982 Koeberg nuclear power plant intake
• 1982 1st HDPE marine outfall, and also 1st non-buoyant
effluent discharge for Mhlathuze Water in Richards Bay
• 1985 Reconstruction of groyne field off Durban
(permeable)
• 1996 to 2009 Ngqura port studies, design and construction
• 2007….Durban Entrance Channel Widening
Typical Elements of Coastal Engineering
• Coastal and ocean processes
• Sediment dynamics
• Coastal stability and shoreline management
• Shore protection
• Coastal field surveys and environmental monitoring
• Harbour layout
• Breakwater design
• Marinas and slipways
• Recreational structures (i.e. jetties and pools)
• Coastal structures
• Marine water quality
• Marine intakes
• Marine outfalls
• Environmental impacts of coastal developments
COASTAL ENGINEERING – THE TOOLS: PHYSICAL
MODELLING AT THE CSIR
COASTAL ENGINEERING – THE TOOLS: NUMERICAL
MODELLING
Strong tidal
currents in
channel
Tidal jet on outgoing tide
Strong easterly wave-driven current
COASTAL ENGINEERING – THE TOOLS: EXPERIENCE
Sectors of Impact of
the Coastal Engineer
• Transport
• Industrial development
• Fishing
• Leisure and recreation
• Municipal and residential
• Tourism
• Mining
• Oil & Energy
• Environment management
Sectors of Impact of
the Coastal Engineer
• Transport
Port Ngqura Development, Algoa Bay
Design team: conceptualisation and modelling. Dredging
Consultant: detail design and construction phase. 1996 - 2006
Sectors of Impact of
the Coastal Engineer
• Industrial development
Mhlathuze Water Marine Outfall refurbishment, Richards Bay
Marine design consultant 2004 – 2013…
Sectors of Impact of
the Coastal Engineer
• Fishing industry
Breakwater Refurbishment, Yzerfontein, South Africa
Marine Consultant - 2005 to 2009
Sectors of Impact of
the Coastal Engineer
• Leisure & recreation
Durban Yacht Marina Mole Upgrade
Marine Consultant - 2009
Sectors of Impact of
the Coastal Engineer
• Municipal and residential
Emergency Erosion Protection Works, Struisbaai
Design & Construct - 2007
Residential Units & Infrastructure, Harbour Island
Marine Consultancy
Commence Date: 1990
Completion Date: 2006
Improvements to Murray’s Bay Harbour, Robben Island
Marine Consultant
2002 to 2007
Sectors of Impact of
the Coastal Engineer
• Mining
Expansions to the Port of Saldanha
Environmental - Assessment of impact on shoreline 2008
Sectors of Impact of
the Coastal Engineer
• Oil & Energy
Gravity Base for Floating Control Buoy off Mossel Bay, South Africa
Design and Construct partner to Civil & Coastal 1999-2000
Sectors of Impact of
the Coastal Engineer
• Environmental Management
Big Bay Development, Cape Town
Coastal Engineer 2006 - 2008
Major Coastal Engineering Interventions?
• Harbours– Commercial (Richards Bay, Durban, East London, Nqgura, Port
Elizabeth, Mossel Bay, Cape Town, Saldanha
• Harbours – Naval (Simonstown)
• Harbours – Small-craft/fishing (Port Nolloth, Lamberts Bay, St Helena Bay,
Hermanus, Gans Bay)
• Harbours – Leisure (Club Mykonos, Granger Bay, Harbour Island, Gordon’s
Bay, Cape St Francis, Port Alfred, Knysna)
• Harbours – Tourist (Murray’s Bay Robben Island, V&A Waterfront)
• Slipways – Yzerfontein,
• Tidal Pools – about 80, Monwabisi, Strandfontein
• Sand bypass – Ngqura, Durban, Richards Bay
• Groynes & jetties – Durban beachfront, Shark Rock Pier
• Reclamations and seawalls – Cape Town foreshore, Seapoint beachfront
• Marine outfalls – some 13, Richards Bay, Durban, Natal Southcoast, East
London, Cape Town
• Cooling water intake – Koeberg nuclear power station
• Shore crossings – Mossel Bay Mossgas, Durban SAPREF
• Shoreline management – Blouberg, Big Bay, Langebaan, St Francis Bay
• Residential Development on coast
Consultants Range of Services
In accordance with ECSA legislation, services include:
• Project conceptualization and development
• Surveys and reconnaissance studies
• Feasibility studies and pre-feasibility investigations
• Data sourcing and analysis
• Mathematical and physical modelling
• Detailed design services
• Project specifications and construction drawings
• Tender process and contractor recommendation
• Project management
• Contract administration
• Construction monitoring
• Operational and maintenance guidelines
• Specialist review and expert opinion
Marine Environmental Data
• Management and planning of surveys – bathymetry,
seismic and sidescan sonar
• Management and planning of environmental data
measurement campaigns
• The analysis of wave, current, wind,
water level and sediment data
• Interpretation and assessment of environmental
parameters
• Definition of environmental
design conditions
Beach “Stabilisation”
• Sediment transport
• Beach protection structures
• Sand bypassing
• Wave modelling
• Beach setback lines
Port Development
• Navigation studies
• Wave penetration
• Port layout
• Model studies
• Breakwater design
• Harbour sedimentation
• Planning and management of dredging operations
• Quaywalls
• Onshore facilities and services
Small Craft Harbour and Marinas
• Boat launching facilities
• Mooring layout
• Protective structures
• Fixed and floating moorings
• Services
Offshore Facilities
• Environmental loading
• Mooring and anchor systems
• Offshore pipelines and single buoy moorings
Sea water Intakes and Outfalls
• Shore crossings
• Discharge pipelines
• Submarine pipelines
• Pre-treatment for sea outfalls
• Marine water quality investigations and dilution
studies
• Support for desalination
Tourism and Recreational Developments
• Waterfronts
• Resorts
• Beaches
• Jetties and piers
• Tidal pools
• Boardwalks
Marina Structures
• Breakwaters
• Quay walls; jetties and piers
• Piled, cantilever and gravity structures
• Revetments
• Groynes
• Floating structures
• Restoration and repair of
existing structures
Rivers and Estuaries
• Flood levels
• Erosion control
• River training
• Ecological water requirements
• Hydro- & sediment dynamics
South African
Coastal Engineers
Taking on the World
Angola Mozambique
Bahrain Namibia
Cape Verde Nigeria
Cameroon Oman
Chili Qatar
Cyprus Sao Tomé/Principe
Djibouti Saudi Arabia
Egypt Seychelles
Equatorial Guinea
Gabon South Africa
Ghana Tanzania
Greece UAE
Israel
Kenya
Libya
Madagascar
Mauritius
Montenegro
Malawi
Morocco
Planning of New Northern Port, Angra Fria, Namibia
Marine specialist consultant in pre-feasibility phase 2004 - 2007
Small Craft Harbour for Swakopmund Waterfront, Namibia
Design Studies 2004 - 2006
Intake and Discharge Works, Desalination Plant, Wlotzkasbaken,
Namibia
Marine Consultant - 2007 to 2013
LNG Facility for Kipevu Oil Terminal, Mombasa, Kenya
Conceptual design of marine works 2005 -2006, 2009
Beach Restoration & Tourist Gateway, Bar Beach, Lagos, Nigeria
Pre-feasibility Study 2000 - 2003
Rabat Corniche Masterplan, Morocco
Master Planning 2006 - 2007
Seawater intake, Derna, Libya
Design review and construction supervision 2005 - 2006
People’s Conference Centre, Tripoli, Libya
Marine Consultant 2008 to 2013…
Mauritius – Ski lanes & Bathing Areas
Strategic Environmental Assessment 2002 - 2005
Ferney Resort Development, Mauritius
Marine Consultant - 2007 to 2013…
Black Rock Golf Resort Development, Mauritius
Marine Consultant - 2007 to 2008
La Balise Marina, Mauritius
Water Quality Modelling 2007 to 2008
Ile Aurore Resort Development, Seychelles
Marine Consultant - 2007 to 2013---
Zil Pasyon Jetty, Felicite, Seychelles
Marine Consultant 2006 to 2013…
Zilwa Marina, Sainte Anne, Seychelles
Marine Consultant 2006 to 2013…
Jumeirah Garden City Development, Dubai
Masterplan Review & Client Advisor
2007 to 2009
Dune Impact, Mesaieed, Qatar
Specialist study for EIA 2006 - 2007
Barka Resort Development, Oman
Master Planning Services: Marine 2007 to 2008
Presidential Palace Development, Abu Dhabi
Marine Design & Implementation 2008 to present
Jumeirah Talise Wellness Centre, Dubai
Marine Design & Implementation 2008 to 2009
Port of Ashdod Main Breakwater Extension, Israel
Marine Consultant 2009 to 2013…
Extremely interesting projects So what is it like to be
a Coastal Engineer in
Challenging environment
South Africa?
Small community
Wide scope of work
Living near the coast!
Huge continent on our doorstep which
needs our expertise
And as Consultant or
Contractor?
You must love to be challenged
You must like to travel and see the inside of airports / hotels
Very little of what you plan, design and study ever gets built!
All marine construction takes longer to complete than everyone thinks!
As South Africans we are sought after on the international front
We have access to the best international technology and have
practical Boer-maak-’n –plan mentality. (We’re used to working with
little information!)
We punch above our weight!
You often have to be brave / stupid!
WSP Group Africa
(Coastal Engineers)
Thank You
