Assessment of Annual Sedimentation into Failaka Marina (Kuwait) and Possible Solutions for Reduction of Siltation.

AlMashan, N.; Al-Attar, I., and Neelamani, S., 2024. Assessment of annual sedimentation into Failaka Marina (Kuwait) and possible solutions for reduction of siltation. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(3), 527–553. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Sedimentation is critical for ports, harbors, and marinas, requiring accurate assessment. Failaka Marina in Kuwait is experiencing a severe noncohesive sedimentation problem. The samples collected at the seven locations along the beach showed that the beach has a uniform grain-size diameter, meaning it is poorly graded sand. The sampling at the tip of the southern breakwater showed that the shoaling is mainly sand. The suspended-sediment concentration varies from 0.025 kg m–3 to 1.2 kg m–3, whereas the mean concentration at the marina entrance is 0.85 kg m–3. The time series of the suspended solids over a year in the seawater surrounding Failaka Island shows a range of 8 to 48,069 ppm. Such a considerable variation in suspended load is due to the massive amounts of dredging and spoil disposal at Boubyan Island and Basra Port (Iraq) when a high sediment load moves around Failaka Island with a concentration of more than 40,000 mg L–1. Annual sedimentation is about 2.35 m y–1, which is responsible for blocking the main entrance for navigation. Kuwait's Ministry of Communication allocates $4 to $6 million annually for dredging and disposal activities. This study evaluates the six marina entrance modification scenarios to determine the best scenario that achieves a measurable reduction in sedimentation rate in the Marina. Six marina breakwater modifications were studied, and annual sedimentation rates were numerically computed. The study use Coupled MIKE 21/3 to simulate hydrodynamic conditions for cohesive sediment transport in a problem area. Field data from 2015 calibrated and validated the model. The primary sediment-moving force is SE wind and sea-swell waves. Littoral drift along Failaka Island's southern coastline and high suspended-sediment concentration result in littoral drift and settling. The best scenario showed a 28% sedimentation reduction and a 26% reduction in maintenance dredging costs from the six studied scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]