Capital coastal protection project begins in Marshall Islands

Site works have started on a critical coastal protection project located in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI).

The project design is led by consulting engineering company Royal HaskoningDHV on behalf of the RMI Ministry of Public Works, Infrastructure and Utilities (MPWIU), with dredging and marine construction company Hall Contracting now mobilizing on site.

In a breaking ground ceremony that occurred last week, Hall Contracting commenced early mobilisation works in preparation for the construction of a 1.81km seawall that will help to protect residents from inundation and wave overtopping, which is getting only more critical with rising sea levels.

The new seawall will be constructed on the Ebeye atoll, using approximately 65,000 tons of armor rock.

Located approximately half-way between Australia and Hawaii, Ebeye is a small, low-lying island in the Kwajalein Atoll with a population of almost 10,000 that is prone to climate hazards.

Climate projection modelling indicates that the global median sea level could rise between 0.43 meters and 0.84 meters by 2100, bringing more frequent and intense coastal flooding, severe coastal erosion, and permanent submergence of some areas of the Marshall Islands.

After a comprehensive design process and risk assessment by Royal HaskoningDHV, a rock revetment seawall was determined as the most effective method to protect Ebeye from storms, flooding and rising sea levels. 

The seawall is set to provide long-term protection from sea level rise of up to 0.5 meters and mitigate inundation and flood risks, helping to defend Ebeye’s oceanside communities.