12-05-2011
Northsea, Netherlands coast.`

Call Sign : 5BGF2
MMSI : 212640000
Gross tonnage : 18091 (since 01-04-2004)
DWT : 28395
Type of ship : Hopper Dredger (during 2004)
Year of build : 2004
Flag : Cyprus (since 01-06-2008)

Dredgers at work on the “Sand motor” project. Already 19,5 million cubic meters of sand are deposited and there is still 2 million cubic meters of sand to go.

The Sand Motor is an innovative method for coastal protection. The Sand Motor (also known as Sand Engine) is a huge volume of sand that will be applied along the coast of South-Holland at Ter Heijde in 2011. Wind, waves and currents will spread the sand naturally along the coast of South-Holland. This is called ‘Building with Nature’. The Sand Motor will gradually change in shape and will eventually befully incorporated into the dunes and the beach. The coast will be broader and safer.

Between March 2011 and October 2011, Rijkswaterstaat and the provincial authority of South Holland will create the hook-shaped peninsula. It will extend 1 km into the sea and be 2 km wide where it joins the shore. Trailing suction hopper dredgers pick up the sand ten kilometres off the coast and take it to the right place. There will also be two offshore replenishment locations alongside the peninsula. These are expected to be completed in March 2012. Read more here:
http://www.dezandmotor.nl/en-GB/en-GB/the-sand-motor/