ABPmer assesses breakwater performance in Malta

ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd (ABPmer), a recognised specialist in flood and coastal risk management, has been awarded a contract to assess the performance of proposed breakwaters in the vicinity of Marsaxlokk fishing village on the island of Malta. The fishing village resides at the rear of Marsaxlokk Bay and although it affords some natural protection from the sea some offshore swells can penetrate directly through the embayment to affect the fishing village.

The Maltese Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs (MRRA) wish to create additional berthing areas outside the existing safe haven. An existing breakwater has suffered significant storm damage and may be repaired to regain the protection it once offered. Waves are not the only concern for the client. Currents generated by the waves as they enter the bay are responsible for the in-filling of the fairway. The new breakwaters must not enhance this transport mechanism and ought to rather be aligned to inhibit the fairway in-filling.

Alun Williams, Head of the Processes Team at ABPmer said “Our continued work on the Island of Malta has seen us undertake feasibility assessments of a wide array of different projects as well as provide metocean conditions to support many different engineering developments. The importance of careful feasibility design and understanding metocean parameters has been highlighted around the islands of Malta due to the high levels of wave exposure there.”

ABPmer will continue to work with the MRRA to ensure that the most appropriate breakwater alignments are realised to provide both the highest level of wave protection possible as well as minimising the dredging requirements to maintain the fairway.

Enquiries:
Tracey Hewett
ABPmer Communications
Tel: 02380 711840