APIBC member Hall Contracting has completed a major coastal protection project on Ebeye in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, delivering a 1.81-kilometre seawall designed to protect one of the Pacific’s most densely populated and climate-vulnerable communities.
Completed following 16 months of construction, the new seawall provides a strengthened line of defence against coastal erosion, storm surges, inundation and rising sea levels. It also incorporates a 1.81-kilometre footpath along the shoreline, creating a new public amenity for the Ebeye community.
Ebeye, part of Kwajalein Atoll, is home to almost 10,000 people on a small, low-lying island where homes and infrastructure extend close to the ocean. Like much of the Marshall Islands, its geography leaves the community particularly exposed to severe weather and climate-related coastal impacts.
The seawall forms part of the Pacific Resilience Program – Phase II, an initiative of the Republic of the Marshall Islands Government aimed at strengthening climate and disaster resilience. The project was funded by the World Bank, the Green Climate Fund and the Marshall Islands Government.
Australian Ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands Paul F. Wilson (l) and Hall Contracting CEO and Director Cameron Hall beside completed seawall
Construction presented a substantial logistical challenge. Hall transported around 84,000 tonnes of armour rock and fill to Ebeye, together with heavy plant, equipment and construction materials. Specialist armour rock was sourced from the United Arab Emirates and transported by bulk carrier to the Marshall Islands.
Hall Contracting CEO and Director Cameron Hall said the project demonstrated the importance of combining engineering expertise with local participation.
“Ebeye is one of the Pacific’s most climate-vulnerable communities, and our team has constructed a 1.8-kilometre seawall to help protect the local community and critical infrastructure from coastal flooding and rising sea levels,” Mr Hall said.
“Local participation was an important part of this project, and we are proud to have created employment and training opportunities for around 35 Marshallese workers at peak workforce levels, in addition to our expatriate crew.”
Environmental improvements accompanied the construction work, with approximately 1,500 tonnes of waste removed from Ebeye’s ocean frontage. Steel was separated for recycling and discarded concrete was repurposed.
Mr Hall said the successful completion of the project demonstrated what could be achieved despite the challenges of working in remote island environments.
“This project highlights what can be achieved in remote Pacific communities by combining strong technical capability with careful logistical planning and meaningful local participation.
“As Australia’s largest dredging and marine infrastructure company, we’re proud to deliver projects across Australia and the Pacific that help communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.”
The project’s completion was marked with a community ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Republic of the Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine, project stakeholders and members of the Ebeye community.
The completed seawall adds to Hall Contracting’s growing portfolio of marine and climate-resilience infrastructure projects across the Pacific.
