![Van Oord awarded coastal reinforcement project in Romania](http://media.assettype.com/bairdmaritime%2Fimport%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F200103-7-Van-Oord.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
Van Oord has been awarded a contract by Administratia Bazinala de Apa Dobrogea-Litoral (ABA-DL) to reinforce the coast at the Romanian seaside resort of Eforie.
Under the contract, existing coastal defences will be redeveloped to make way for more nature-friendly alternatives. The pier and some of the current breakwaters will be removed while new groynes and beaches will be built to protect the popular coastal town from erosion by the waves of the Black Sea.
Van Oord will also place artificial reefs and biostructures on the Black Sea bed to stimulate and enrich the local ecosystem.
After the design phase of about 18 months, the construction of the groynes will start in 2021. Following completion, Van Oord will use a trailing suction hopper dredger to restore the beaches.
The coastal reinforcement project is expected to be completed in 2023.