Belgian marine contractor Jan De Nul has completed dredging works to deepen the access channel at Brazil’s Port of Itapoá from 14 metres to 16 metres.
Over nine months, the company’s dredger Galileo Galilei pumped approximately seven million cubic metres of sand onto the coast, creating nine kilometres of beach and five kilometres of dunes.
The restored shoreline ranges from 40 to 150 metres in width and was designed to provide protection against coastal erosion and storm activity.
The deeper channel will allow the port to handle larger vessels and increase its navigational capacity.
Jan De Nul worked with local environmental company Acquaplan to stabilise the newly formed dunes.
The project involved introducing approximately 300,000 native plants, with samples from eight coastal species collected and propagated at a greenhouse near Itapoá before being transplanted along the shoreline.
Itapoá Mayor Jefinho Garcia said the municipality had experienced persistent sand loss before the project.
He also said the works had coincided with an increase in summer visitors and higher valuations for local businesses, building plots and real estate.