Van Oord has signed a new contract with the Environment Agency to continue to protect the Lincolnshire coast of the UK for the next 4 years. The contract encompasses beach nourishment over the length of 20 kilometres and requires around 400,000 cubic metres of sand each year and continues the works Van Oord has been undertaking there since 2015.  Van Oord will also be providing technical advice to the Environment Agency in relation to the implementation of their flood risk management strategy. Implementation of this strategy will involve working with nature to provide a more sustainable approach to coastal management and greater resilience to the local community. In line with the client’s aim to achieve net zero carbon by 2030, trailing suction hopper dredger HAM 316 will be using a sustainable biofuel during the first campaign in 2021. The feedstock for the biocomponent of the fuel is primarily used cooking oil.

‘I am delighted that the Environment Agency has chosen Van Oord as its partner for continuing the protection of the Lincolnshire coastline over the next 4 years. We look forward to working together to implement their new strategy for defending this coastline and, by realising sustainability gains whilst doing so, assisting them to achieve their goal of net zero carbon by 2030.’

— Paul Hesk, Regional Manager UK

Sustainability will be a primary focus of the new contract, with constant monitoring to ensure the project delivers against the UN Sustainability Goals. Van Oord will also be undertaking a Civil Engineering and Environmental Quality assessment (CEEQUAL) of the project. Rigorous evidence-based assessment will enable the team to identify and deliver year-on-year sustainability gains.

The coastal defences along the 38 kilometre Lincolnshire coastline protect 45,000 residential properties and static caravans, businesses, infrastructure and 35,000 hectares of agricultural land from coastal flooding.