Journal Article

Harbour and coastal developments in Gabon

Geldenhuys, M, Kapp, F

2009

Overview

SOUTH AFRICAN CONSULTING engineers seem to be very popular in Africa and the Middle East. This article takes a brief look at some current involvements in West Africa, and specifically Gabon, with regard to harbour and coastal facilities. Coastal and port Engineering Consultants (CPEC), previously part of Entech, were recently contracted to undertake the design of a fishing harbour at Port Gentil, Gabon. This involves the restoration of existing structures and the construction of new berths to accommodate both fishing boats and ferry boats. A monitoring system for control over foreign fishing boats forms part of the project. A fishing harbour at Libreville is also planned, but the precise location remains a problem. Other projects in Gabon are the transformation of the old harbour at Libreville into a small Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, and extension of the existing Port Owendo harbour. Activities in West Africa have now expanded to states such as Cameroon (harbour and waterfront), Nigeria (renovation of Bar Beach at Lagos) and various projects in Angola. In Sao Tome, work on a deep-sea harbour on a volcanic island about 200 km west of Gabon is also being negotiated.