Halcrow's position as a world leader in coastal and marine engineering was built on traditional engineering concepts and design, such as seawalls, revetments and embankments for coastal defence purposes. Having pioneered the use of softer forms of defence, much of our work also involves the creation of artificial headlands, beach nourishment and shingle recycling schemes.
Halcrow's experience of coastal structures has included most types of construction and materials. Alternative design concepts are always considered, to provide the most appropriate and economic form of protection given site specific conditions and constraints. Halcrow's in-depth knowledge in this particular field has resulted in innovative and widely acclaimed solutions being development.
Halcrow is among the world leaders in breakwater design. During the past 30 years well over 100km of new breakwaters have been constructed to Halcrow designs, to protect numerous coastal installations. These designs have involved a wide variety of construction methods ranging from rubble mound breakwaters armoured with natural rock or concrete units (Halcrow staff have design experience of many of the most widely accepted types of unit); to caissons, composite designs, floating breakwaters and piled training walls.
Halcrow's experience also extends to the design of intake and outfall structures. This experience has resulted from the study and design of numerous installations worldwide for power stations, desalinisation plants and sewerage and wastewater disposal schemes. A complete design service is offered which combines long term experience in public health, water and coastal engineering, and environmental assessment.
In order to ensure that structures are sustainable, a fundamental understanding of all coastal processes and in particular sediment movement is essential for the design and maintenance of these schemes. Such an understanding is also required to inform and optimise the design of coastal and marine structures to reduce risks and costs. Halcrow’s coastal experts utilise numerical and physical modelling to aid geomorphological assessments for this purpose.
Following construction, Halcrow also offers asset management services to aid the inspection and maintenance of coastal and marine structures. This utilises our SANDS and PORTAL systems.
In recent years there has been an increase in the number of projects completed through the Design and Build route as authorities and operators have identified the need for “fast-track” project delivery. Halcrow has been involved with this type of contract from its first inception and has experience on both sides of such contracts, working for either the owner/developer or the contractor.
Our expertise and experience in coastal and marine structures design and construction includes:
- condition assessment
- serviceability standard appraisal
- overtopping/flood risk analysis
- feasibility studies
- appraisal of options
- preliminary design scheme development
- field data capture and analysis
- numerical and physical modelling
- detailed design
- navigation assessments
- geotechnical stability assessment
- consent and licences
- environmental impact appraisal
- tender preparation and assessment
- contract administration
- site supervision
- post project evaluation