AMERSFOOT, The Netherlands, Feb. 6, 2007 -- The River Administration of the Lower Danube in Romania awarded a DHV-led consortium the contract for the design of the Sulina Channel Bank Protection. Sulina Channel runs through the Danube delta nature reserve and ensures the discharge of water and ice from the Danube River into the Black Sea.
The project comprises a two-part design strategy: the first part aims at the protection of the Danube delta nature reserve against annual flooding from the Sulina Channel; and the second, is directed at reducing maintenance dredging on the shipping channel. DHV and its consortium partners ECORYS (Netherlands), DHI (Denmark) and Consitrans (Romania) will also be responsible for the tendering of the required bank protection and rehabilitation works.
The feasibility and design study will produce recommendations aimed at maintaining the delicate equilibrium between two elements. On the one hand, the influx of water and sediment from the Sulina Channel into the precious and fragile reserve; and on the other hand, the protection of this reserve against increased shipping levels and the consequently greater threat of pollution. Carefully designed bank protection and influx points are essential to adequately maintain this equilibrium.
The bank protection will also make the Danube River more accessible for large coastal and inland vessels, as well as promote inland transport on the river.
The project is partly financed by a loan from the European Investment Bank. The contract is valued at EUR 1.2 million [US$1.56 million] and runs for 12 months.
DHV (www.dhv.com) is an international consultancy and engineering group that provides services and sustainable solutions in the fields of Transportation, Water, Building and Manufacturing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, and Aviation. It is our mission to provide multi-disciplinary services for the sustainable development of our living environment, in a close relationship with clients, staff, partners and shareholders, based on mutual trust.
With 4,000 employees, DHV is active in some fifty countries worldwide through its network of local offices in almost thirty countries. The DHV Group's net turnover in 2005 was EUR 300.6 million [US$389.6 million].
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Also see: "DHV consortium wins Caspian Sea water management project"
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