Van Oord wins twin Dutch marine civils projects

The projects involve building nature-friendly embankments along Lake Kleine Noorder IJplas and restoring the Island of Lerst in Lake Markermeer.

“One of Van Oord’s sustainability pillars is empowering nature and communities. As a marine contractor, we have gained considerable expertise in marine ecosystem health,” said Olga Huizing, commercial manager of dredging & infra at Van Oord.

The fact that we can carry out most of the work using our zero-emission equipment is icing on the cake and supports the sustainability targets of both Rijkswaterstaat and Van Oord.”

Nature conservation

As part of the project, Van Oord will construct over 700 metres of nature-friendly embankments along Lake Kleine Noorder IJplas. 

The embankments, built using brushwood and willow branches, will create sheltered habitats for plants, birds and fish.

Both initiatives aim to improve water quality and support the EU’s Water Framework Directive.

Van Oord will deploy zero-emission equipment to meet Rijkswaterstaat’s environmental requirements. This includes advanced electric earth moving machinery and crane vessels to reduce nitrogen emissions.

The second part of the project focuses on restoring the island of Ierst, a nature sanctuary in Lake Markermeer. Restoration work will involve increasing the island’s elevation and creating sheltered underwater zones for fish using sustainable materials.

Work on both marine civil engineering projects is expected to begin in early 2025.