Coastal and estuary engineering and management

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  • Shoreline management plan for Dorset, including Durdle Door, the limestone arch
  • View along part of Flagler Beach, Florida, USA
  • Halcrow designed breakwater, Sohar Port, Oman
  • Stanley Main Beach, Hong Kong
  • Comprehensive coastal protection and restoration plan, Louisiana
  • Nearshore breakwater at Guapo Beach, Trindad and Tobago
  • Cliff erosion at Happisburgh, Norfolk, UK
  • Halcrow designed breakwater construction at Jebel Ali, UAE
  • Beach maintenance works at Preston Beach, Dorset, UK
  • Alkborough, Lincolnshire, UK - managed realignment site post-breach
  • CoastRanger MS - an educational tool for sustainable coastal manageme
  • Numerical model output showing current speed
  • Beach recharge at Shoreham, Sussex, UK
  • Coastal erosion at Corton, Suffolk, UK - before a new scheme was constructed
  • Existing defences of Black Sea coastal erosion prevention scheme before upgrade.
  • Development along the Dubai Marina channel, UAE
  • Detached breakwaters at Happisburgh, Norfolk, UK
  • SANDS mapping
  • Marina construction to Halcrow design at Khor Fakkan, UAE
  • Coastal defence overtopping - Blackpool, UK

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Image 1 of 20 Shoreline management plan for Dorset, including Durdle Door, the limestone arch

Practical answers to coastal risk.

Halcrow has been a leading international multi-disciplinary consultant firm for over 140 years. Throughout its history it has remained at the forefront of coastal and port engineering, coastal management and the modelling of coastal processes.

Our large team of specialist coastal engineers and scientists, primarily based in the UK, USA and Middle East, has a long history of successfully delivering coastal projects around the world. They are supported by GIS analysts, economists, environmental scientists, river engineers, surveyors, geologists and geotechnical engineers, port planners, transportation planners, business planning and finance experts and contract specialists from within the wider Halcrow Group.

Our expertise covers all aspects of work in the coastal zone, encompassing integrated coastal management commissions, coastal defence schemes, and coastal and offshore developments.

Halcrow’s engineering capability covers all forms of marine design. In terms of harder coastal defences, we are experienced with seawalls, groynes, revetments and embankments. Having pioneered the use of softer forms of defence, much of Halcrow’s work also involves the creation of artificial headlands, beach re-nourishment and shingle recycling schemes.

Halcrow places a high importance on establishing a fundamental understanding of processes and conditions when developing sustainable solutions. The company has therefore invested heavily in our own wide range of numerical models and has developed other software tools that will assist us and our clients in managing and monitoring the terrestrial and marine environment.

Halcrow's coastal expertise covers data collection and analysis, coastal processes studies, planning, design, project management, economic and environmental assessment, numerical and physical modelling, construction supervision and management, and monitoring in respect of the following:

  • coastal and marine structures, including breakwaters, wharfs, jetties, seawalls and revetments
  • dredging, reclamation and beach nourishment
  • structural assessment and repair
  • geomorphological studies supported by numerical an physical modelling
  • coastal monitoring/oceanographic data collection
  • institutional strengthening
  • beach management
  • integrated coastal zone management plans
  • coastal strategy studies
  • estuary management plans
  • shoreline management plans
  • habitat creation schemes
  • coastal and waterfront development
  • fishing harbours
  • marinas and small harbours
  • development infrastructure including roads and pavements, bridges, buildings, water and power supply, sewerage and communications

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    A sophisticated coastal data capture, monitoring and analysis suite developed for shoreline managers, coastal engineers and environmental scientists

Contact details

Coastal engineering contacts


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