A €9 million project to strengthen the protection of Larvotto Beach against coastal erosion is underway. The two-phase plan is being led by Monegasque company, Trasomar. The first phase began on 13 January 2025 on the Meridian side of the beach and is expected to be completed by the end of April. The second phase will take place on the Grimaldi Forum side from October until December, so as not to interfere with the summer months.
What will be done?
The project will consist of two rock islands spanning 30 metres in length, 10 metres wide and reaching one metre above sea level. In addition, the central breakwater will be divided to improve the oxygenation of the water in the cove. If these measures prove effective, the government may proceed with a third phase, which will replace elements of the historic breakwater.
What happened to the “geotube” project?
In the years 2000 and 2001, Trasomar created two offshore submerged breakwaters made up of geosynthetic containers, located to the right of the Plage du Larvotto. The project saw the demolition of the main dike and 2,400 nets filled with materials for a 1,460 m² submarine platform. The work was done according to environmental constraints in the protected marine reserve area. The geotextile tubes were initially developed by the US Army Corps of engineers and filled with sand.
The geotextile tubes facilitated swell control, making it possible to fight against beach erosion. However, the new geotextile tubes proved insufficient in the face of increasingly frequent and intense Mediterranean storms. Repeated damage, including the destruction of the Miami Beach terrace, has highlighted the urgent need to strengthen the defences.
Renzo Piano, the esteemed architect behind the Larvotto 2021 redevelopment, helped design the new sustainable structures, which are expected to last 100 years, far exceeding the 30-year lifespan of the geotubes.
Environmental preservation
The new project is prioritizing environmental preservation. Vulnerable marine species will be carefully transplanted and the Posidonia seagrass beds will be protected. Construction will take place on a floating dock to minimize sediment disturbance and a designated ecologist will monitor the environmental health of the site for a decade following the project’s completion.
