State-owned port operator Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has started the yearly nourishment environmental practice of the Alkanstrand Beach, next to the entrance to the harbour of the Port of Richards Bay.

The undertaking, in partnership with the City of uMhlathuze municipality, is vital to protecting the city’s coastline from erosion and ensuring the safe navigation of vessels calling at the Port of Richards Bay, TNPA says.

At the heart of the operation is TNPA’s iLembe dredger, which is equipped with trailer-suction capabilities to extract sand that naturally accumulates in the port’s sand trap.

The advanced dredger, which has a hopper capacity of 5 500 m³, pumps the sand through a bypass pipeline to Alkanstrand Beach, thereby restoring and stabilising the shoreline and ensuring a balance between port operations and the nearby coastal environment.

The project also enhances the recreational and tourism value of Alkanstrand Beach and ensures it remains safe and enjoyable for residents and visitors.

Alkanstrand Beach will remain open for public use while beach nourishment activities are under way, but certain areas may be temporarily restricted for safety reasons, and the public is urged to monitor safety signs in these areas.

The project will continue until the end of March 2026.

Further, the operation adheres to strict environmental regulations and is continuously monitored by independent specialists to ensure minimal ecological disturbance, TNPA Port of Richards Bay port manager Captain Dennis Mqadi highlights.

“The beach nourishment is part on the ongoing port-city integration to ensure that essential maintenance work is undertaken transparently to benefit both port operations and the broader community,” he says.

“The annual beach nourishment project is a proactive investment in our city’s coastline, which supports the protection of Alkanstrand Beach and the long-term resilience of our environment. This partnership is an example of how local and national entities can work together for the good of the community,” says City of uMhlathuze city manager Phakama Mhlongo.