Eastside Project – Gibraltar
The Eastside Project, located on the eastern coast of Gibraltar, involves the construction of major maritime infrastructure aimed at creating new land through sea reclamation works, protecting the coastline, and enabling the future development of a mixed-use district that will include residential areas, public spaces, and a marina.
The project comprises the construction of three main coastal protection structures: a main breakwater, a northern breakwater, and a southern breakwater. These structures are designed to provide protection against wave action and marine conditions, ensuring the stability and long-term durability of the newly reclaimed land.
One of the most significant elements of the project is the main breakwater, approximately 1,000 metres in length, constructed using 16 large reinforced concrete caissons. These caissons are manufactured at a caisson yard owned by ROVER and subsequently transported by sea to their final location, where they are installed through carefully controlled floating and ballasting operations.
The external protection system of the breakwaters combines various maritime engineering solutions, including rock armour of different sizes, layers of granular material, and specialised concrete units known as Cubipods™, designed to dissipate wave energy and improve the stability of the structures against the action of the sea. In addition, reinforced concrete crown walls are constructed to complete the protection system of the breakwaters.
The Eastside Gibraltar project also incorporates specific construction solutions for berthing areas and land connections, including concrete caisson structures, steel sheet piles, and ancillary works associated with the future marina and its access infrastructure. The works are being executed in phases and require continuous coordination between onshore and offshore activities, as well as strict monitoring of weather conditions and sea state.
One of the main technical challenges of the project is the construction of these structures in an exposed marine environment, where the transportation and positioning of caissons, material placement, and rock armour installation depend on wave, wind, and current conditions. To support these operations, specialised marine equipment, positioning systems, and the corresponding bathymetric surveys and inspections are employed to monitor the geometry and progress of the structures throughout construction.
Impact of the Eastside Gibraltar Project
From an environmental perspective, the project requires specific monitoring of its potential effects on the marine environment, including water quality control, underwater noise monitoring, and the management of dust, noise, and vibration emissions associated with construction activities. These measures form part of the environmental monitoring programme required to ensure that the works are carried out in compliance with applicable requirements.
In terms of social and economic impact, Eastside represents a strategic development for Gibraltar, as it enables the creation of new land and supports the future development of housing, public spaces, maritime facilities, and new economic opportunities. Due to its scale and complexity, the project also stands as a significant example of maritime engineering and coastal infrastructure construction within a unique urban and geographical environment.
