Low-crested offshore breakwaters: a functional tool for beach management

Abstract

Beach best quality is one of the main targets for resort hotels located near to or by the sea. Offshore breakwaters are an alternative for coast protection against erosion and/or the creation of pocket beaches, particularly at locations where the tidal range is negligible or small. Such works can successfully function only under specific combinations of wave, longshore and cross shore current, bathymetry and quantity/quality of sediment. Hereunder the approach methodology for the design of low-crested offshore breakwaters for two hotels in Greece and Cyprus is described.