A large trailing suction hopper dredger has commenced shingle replenishment operations along a stretch of Sussex coastline.
The vessel, identified as Sospan Dau, is among the biggest of its kind operating in British waters and has been deployed to Elmer Beach, situated along the coast between Littlehampton and Bognor Regis.
The current works form part of a scheme designated as the Elmer Beach Management Remedial Works, an initiative intended to preserve coastal defences and shield the shoreline from ongoing erosion issues.
The project aims to strengthen the long-term durability of the local coastline.
Oversight of the scheme rests with the Littlehampton Harbour Master and the Harbour Authority.
Members of the public using the area have been advised to proceed with care and adhere to any directions provided by harbour personnel and vessel masters while operations continue.
Elmer has experienced persistent challenges with coastal erosion over the years.
Earlier in 2024, funding of £7.9 million was allocated to address erosion concerns at this particular beach, representing a portion of a broader £4.2 billion government investment programme directed at coastal protection initiatives.
The deployment of Sospan Dau marks a return engagement for the vessel in Sussex waters, having previously transported approximately 30,000 tonnes of shingle from an offshore location near Littlehampton to the shoreline close to Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne during the previous year.