CLIENT :

ECOH CORPORATION

DATABASE ON SHORE PROTECTION FACILITIES

FOR THE STUDY ON PROTECTION AND REHABILITATION
OF SOUTHERN ROMANIAN BLACK SEA SHORE IN ROMANIA
VOLUME 1
MIDIA-AGIGEA

Contract no.. : 3378 /2005

Design phase : STUDY
Year :November 2005

D E S IG N E R :

S A
IPTANA- S.A.D E S IG N IN S T IT U T E F O R R O AD ,
W AT E R AN D AIR T R AN S P O R T
38, Dinicu Golescu Blvd, sector 1, Bucharest E-mail: office @iptana .ro
Tel.: 40-21-224.93.00; 40-21-222.36.14 Fax: 40-21-312.14.16 R.C.: J40/1747/1991, Cod Fiscal: R1583816
 VOLUME 1
CONTENT

Summary........................................................................................................................... 4
Chapter 1- Midia.............................................................................................................14
I. Drawings.............................................................................................................15
1. Layout of Midia Port......................................................................................16
2. Cross sections through offshore breakwater and southern
breakwater from Midia Port (1977).................................................................17
II. Execution stages of Midia Port...........................................................................18
Chapter 2- Mamaia...........................................................................................................19
I. Drawings...........................................................................................................20
1. Map of the littoral in mamaia-Constantza area (1978)....................................21
2. Schematic layout of existing protection works in Mamaia.............................22
3. Existing situation of MM1 jetty resulted from measurements........................23
4. Cross sections in the protection works in Mamaia area..................................24
II. Aero-photo Touristic port unfinished precinct, MM1, MM2,
MM3, MM4 and detail photos regarding the existing works
condition................................................................................................................25
III. Description of the execution stages of structures.............................................33
IV. History of artificial nourishment......................................................................35
Chapter 3- Constanta.....................................................................................................37
I. Drawings............................................................................................................38
1. Schematic layout of the existing protection works in Constanţa area.............39
2. Layout of C5 jetty up to Tomis port (1985)....................................................40
3. Layout of C2 jetty up to C5 jetty from Constantza (1986).............................41
4. Layout of C6 jetty up to C5 jetty from Constantza North area (1984)..........42
5. Layout of shelter precinct up to C6 jetty Constantza (1986)..........................43
6. Layout plan of shelter precinct and C8 jetty from Constantza (1984)............44
7. Layout of C2 jetty..........................................................................................45
8. Cross sections in C1 jetty (Tomis Port- Northern breakwater).......................46
9. Cross sections in C2 jetty................................................................................47
10. Layout of jetty C3 from Constantza (1986)....................................................48
11. Cross sections in C3 jetty from Constantza (1986).........................................49
12. Layout plan of C4 jetty from Constantza (1986).............................................50
13. Cross sections P1-P8 in C3 and C4 jetties area from Constanta.....................51
 14. Longitudinal profile in C5 jetty from Constantza North area (1982)..............52
15. Layout of jetty C6 from Constantza North area (1983)..................................53
16. Cross sections in jetty C6 at Constantza (1983).............................................54
17. Longitudinal profile in C6 jetty from Constantza North area (1982).............55
18. Longitudinal profile in C6 jetty- section 2, from Constantza (1983)............56
19. Longitudinal profile in C6 jetty- section 3, from Constantza (1983)............57
20. Layout C8 jetty from Constanta (1984)..........................................................58
21. Cross sections 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4 in C8 jetty from Constantza (1984)...........59
22. Cross sections 5-5 and 6-6 in C8 jetty from Constantza (1984).....................60
23. Longitudinal profile sections 1,3- C8 jetty from Constantza (1984).............61
24. Longitudinal profile C8 jetty, section 2 from Constantza (1984)...................62
25. Layout of shelter precinct from Constantza North area (1984)- stage 1.........63
26. Cross sections in shelter precinct from Constantza (1984).............................64
27. Longitudinal profiles in shelter precinct from Constantza North
area (1984)......................................................................................................65
28. Longitudinal profiles in detached breakwater A from
Constantza North area (1984).........................................................................66
29. Longitudinal profiles in D and E detached breakwaters
from Constantza North area (1986)................................................................67
30. Detail of retaining wall in Constantza North area (1982)................................68
31. Retaining wall in Constantza cross sections P1-P4 (1982).............................69
32. Longitudinal profile in promenade from Constantza, in Modern
beach area (1985)............................................................................................70
33. Retaining wall from Constantza in Modern beach area (1985).......................71
34. Constantza Port breackwaters-execution stages..............................................72
II. Aero-photo Ag1 and general detail photos regarding
the existing work condition................................................................................73
III. Project for beach extension at Constanta...........................................................89
IV. Description of the existing situation of the works ............................................92
V. Constantza port..................................................................................................93
Chapter 4- Agigea...........................................................................................................94
I. Drawings............................................................................................................95
1.Layout of Eforie Nord cliff and Ag1 jetty (1980)..........................................96
II. Aero-photo Ag1 and detail photos regarding
the existing work condition................................................................................97
III. Description of the existing situation of the work.............................................104
 SUMMARY

1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................4
2. Documentation content ................................................................................................6
2.1. Maps of the littoral in the presented zone .................................................................6
2.2.Schematic layouts of the existing protection works...................................................6
2.3. General layout ...........................................................................................................6
2.4. Cross sections............................................................................................................6
2.5. Longitudinal sections ................................................................................................6
2.6. Information from projects .........................................................................................6
2.6.1. Technical report..................................................................................................7
2.7. Photos ........................................................................................................................7
2.8. Description of the existing situation..........................................................................7
3. General information on the shore protection works.....................................................8
3.1. Execution technology................................................................................................8
3.1.1. Dykes...............................................................................................................8
3.1.2. Artificial sand nourishment.............................................................................8
3.2. Used materials ...........................................................................................................8
3.3. Present quarries .........................................................................................................9
3.4. Mineralogy of the Romanian Sea shore sand.........................................................10
3.5. Behaviour in time and effect on beaches ................................................................11
Stone quarries................................................................................................................13
 1. Introduction
Within the Study regarding the protection and rehabilitation of the southern Romanian
shore of Black Sea, the present documentation represents a database containing the available
information on the existing shore protection works.
Taking into account the oldness of the projects for the protection works, the information
are presented less uniform and as the data are available.
The existing shore protection works have been conventionally named with the initials of
the station in front of which they are located and with numbers from north to south.
1. Midia
2. Mamaia (MM1 – MM6)
3. Constanţa (C1 – C8)
4. Agigea (Ag1)
5. Eforie Nord (EN1 – EN8)
6. Eforie Sud (ES1 – ES8)
7. Costineşti (Cs1)
8. Olimp (O1 – O4)
9. Neptun (N1 – N3)
10. Jupiter (J1 – J5)
11. Aurora (A1 – A3)
12. Venus (V1 – V3)
13. Saturn (S1 – S5)
14. Mangalia (M1 – M4)
15. 2 Mai (2M1)

Regarding the submerged longitudinal dykes, although there is information on their

execution date, no recent surveys have been made to provide data on their position and condition.
However, these dykes are presented on the schematic layout of the works.

4
5
 2. Documentation content

2.1. Maps of the littoral in the presented zone

In order to offer a general image of the zone, maps on more extended areas are presented.
The available maps are from 1978. The maps are presented at the scale 1:25,000, scale at
which the shore protection works existing at that time can be seen.

2.2.Schematic layouts of the existing protection works

Based on site surveys and available information from previous studies, general layouts
with the location of the existing protection structures, numbered according to the convention,
have been drawn.

2.3. General layout

The protection works general layout in site does not always correspond to the works
layout in the project. Taking into account the oldness of these projects and their execution, the
reasons for which in some cases the designed protection scheme has been modified are not
known.
Where possible, details of the plan view, settling plan, are presented.

2.4. Cross sections

Cross sections are presented for the dykes the project of which has been available.
As principle, the structure of the dykes cross section is the same for all the zones.
The differences occur in general depending on depth, dyke position – transversal or
longitudinal.

2.5. Longitudinal sections

Also, the longitudinal sections are presented for the dykes the project of which has been
available.

2.6. Information from projects

The conception of protection works evolves during their achievement, based on the
numerous site studies and in nature observations of the obtained results at the executed works,
together with the experience at international level.
In principle, the schemes of the protection works have been:

6
 - groins (counting on a longitudinal sediment transport);
- combined dykes (T, Y, Γ, π) and sand fill (for sediment poor areas, on calcareous
fundament, meant to retain the artificial sand fill or, if the case, the natural sand
transported by currents, in the cell between them)
- longitudinal breakwaters, parallel with the shore, with spaces between them and, if the
case, with artificial sand fill (counting on the salient formed behind them and on a
better renew of water)

2.6.1. Technical report

A technical description for each of the works or schemes of shore protection is presented.
It provides information on the situation of the shore at that time, the design concept, the studied
alternatives, used materials.

2.7. Photos
Photos made from helicopter are presented for each station, providing an image on the
real situation at the date of study, both of the protection works as location and of the shore
configuration. The initials of the dykes have been written on these general photos in order to
recognize them.
The attached photos present both the layout of the works and details of these. The
technical condition of the works can be noticed, insisting on their damages, dimensions and
quality of neighbour beaches.

2.8. Description of the existing situation

As a conclusion for the presented material for each zone, comments are made, regarding:
- correspondence of the executed works with the project
- technical condition of the works
- effects on beaches

7
 3. General information on the shore protection works

3.1. Execution technology

3.1.1. Dykes
In general the works have been executed from land, because the work from water is not
possible at depths smaller than the draught of the floating equipment, as well as when the sea is
not still. The work from land is also cheaper and can be done in the cold season even when the
sea is agitated, so that in the warm season the tourists are not disturbed.
The stone material from the core of groins connected to the shore has been placed by
dumping trucks, and then arranged at the designed profile.
For equipment circulation, as they advanced, the dyke crown has been leveled with a
crushed stone layer of 20 cm thickness, which fills the voids at the top of the core of rubble stone.
The protection layers of 0.5 – 1 t/pcs stone blocks have been executed by crane, in two
layers with as good as possible compactness and interlocking of different size blocks, and
uniformity of layer thickness.
The schedule of the execution has been settled so that the core does not advance more
than 30 m before the execution of the protection layers.
After the placement of the stone material, the concrete slab has been poured at the crown.

3.1.2. Artificial sand nourishment

The beach fill has been made at the level in the project, on a layout that followed the limit
of maintaining the artificial beach. The sand is left to fall at the slope corresponding to the natural
slope angle, depending on grain size and on the sea state.

3.2. Used materials

- unsorted rubble stone of 1-500 kg/pcs, for the bed and the core of the dyke;
- stone blocks of 0,5 – 1,0 t/pcs, for the protection layers of the dyke;
- crushed stone for core leveling for circulation;
- concrete for stabilopodes and for the crown slab;
- sand for artificial nourishment of the beaches

8
 The dimensions of the rubble stone and blocks, on sorts, has to respect the distribution in
the table:
Sort 1 – 500 kg/pcs 500 –1000 kg/pcs
Mass in kg
min. max. min. max.
larger or equal to
1500 - - 0 5
1000 - - 0 30
750 0 3 - -
500 0 30 90 100
250 - - 98 100
70 - - - -
50 70 100 - -
10 - - - -
1 98 100 - -

The materials sources have been as follows:

Unsorted rubble stone
- local excavations, executed on the platform of Mangalia shipyard
- Ovidiu quarry
Stone blocks
- Sitorman quarry
- Ovidiu quarry
Crushed stone
- Iacob Deal quarry
Sand
- Ballast pit on Danube
Concrete
- sand from Danube
- crushed stone from Iacob Deal

3.3. Present quarries

Corbu quarry
Transport distance from the quarry to Constanţa 46 km
It can deliver the following quantities:
- rubble limestone 200.000 t/year

9
 - limestone blocks 300.000 t/year
Ovidiu quarry
Transport distance from the quarry to Constanţa 50 km
It can deliver the following quantities of dolomite limestone:
- rubble stone 2.000.000 t/2 years
- blocks 0,5 – 2 t/pcs 150.000 t/2 years
- blocks 1,0 – 4 t/pcs 200.000 t/2 years
Turcoaia quarry
Transport distance from the quarry to Constanţa 152 km
It can assure a quantity of stone blocks of 20.000 t/month
N. Bălcescu (Tortomanu) quarry
Transport distance from the quarry to Constanţa 63 km
It can assure a quantity of 15.000 t/month of each sort (unsorted stone, blocks 0,5 – 2
t/pcs, blocks 1 – 4 t/pcs, quarry stone).
Izvoarele – Măcin quarry
Transport distance from the quarry to Constanţa 176 km
Assures:
- quarry rubble stone 1.000.000 t/year
- blocks 150.000 t/year

3.4. Mineralogy of the Romanian Sea shore sand

After the mineralogical tests it has been proved that, from Gura Sulina to Capul
Constantza, the beach consists in the same type of sand Quartz grey sand, with a very small
limestone content coming from shells crashing. The limestone content slowly varies from the
North to the South, increasing from 5% to 20%.
Regarding the granularity of these types of sand it may be noticed a sorting caused by waves.
Thus, the average diameter above the sea level reaches 0.30-0.10mm, while for the depth
of 2 and 5 m the grains are a lot thinner, in some places getting the mud aspect.
This depth grading sorting is stable and the waves have never drifted very fine sand or mud above
the water level on the beach, but only the biggest particles from the respective area.
Regarding the area at the south from Constantza head, the alluvial material is totally
different from the North.
On the entire area from the South, the sand that forms the few beaches formed on the
rocky cliff presents round grains and different colours, coming from shells crushing and from
material formed by rocks abrasion. In general, the limestone content is 75-98% except for that
belonging to the sand from Mangalia, which is only 50-60%.

10
 Just like at the North, it may be seen the depth sorting caused by waves, but the average
diameters are bigger in the area from the South. Big loess or lute quantities fallen into the sea
because of the cliff crushing or thrown once with the execution of the consolidation works
(Eforie Sud) have been drifted by waves or stored offshore. On the other hand, big grains of rocks
crushing or of whole shells are drifted above the water.

3.5. Behaviour in time and effect on beaches

We mention that small damages of the dykes, settlements or movements of some elements
are allowed at dyke dimensioning, with the condition to repair them in short time.
The dykes are considered elastic works, which can be easily completed. Taking into
account the large variability of waves’ size, for strong storms, some movements that do not put in
danger the structure are admitted.
The lack of organized maintenance works has led to the worsening in time of the
damages, the affected zones becoming more vulnerable.

Analyzing the behaviour of the executed works, we can conclude:

From point of view of the protection works' effect
• In general, combined dykes (groins with branches) gave satisfying results in the poor
alluvia areas, at which sand fill has been achieved. It is the case especially of the stations at north
from Mangalia, where beaches have been created on a rocky shore.
In certain places shortcomings occurred:
- The protection system has been not completely exploited, because of insufficient
artificial sand fill.
- The too small distance between works led to cells with lesser renew of water.
- The too large distance between certain works allowed the erosion of the cliff between
them.
In spite all these shortcomings, a series of beaches has been created.
• In the areas where alluvia transport exists, works parallel with the shore can give good
results, which must be sustained, depending on case, with sand fill.
• The literature of speciality note that at coastal works, because of the complexity of
hydro-geomorphological phenomena, besides studies on model giving the qualitative image of
the results, it is necessary to permanently survey the executed works and to correct the solutions,
depending on the real situation. For example, water quality changes in Black Sea led to biological
changings, having as effect the reduction of shell sand quantities that had supplied beaches.

11
 • It is very important that the entire system of existing works to be surveyed on an
adequate term. For each cell, proposals for making the works more efficient shall be made. This
means elimination of shore erosion between dykes, water changing, increase of retaining
capacity, rehabilitation of damaged dykes.
• It is necessary to complete the existing theoretical data with measurements on real
situations, like currents circulation in cells and their speed.
• Big quantities of sand being necessary for beaches fill, a study for establishing the
adequate qualitative and quantitative sources, at a reasonable price, is necessary.

From point of view of protection structures’ behaviour, the conclusions are:

• old dykes, with protections of rocks, suffered degradations, some of blocks not having
the necessary weight have been dislocated;
• dykes protected with stabilopodes of 4.5 t/piece had had a good behaviour, their
stability being assured at the action of waves specific to the Black Sea, at the dykes’ depth
of 4.0 m;
• because of a too finer material under the crown slab, the currents washed it and the
concrete slab has been damaged;
• the inner protection layer of the breakwaters had had the most often to suffer, because
the insufficient blocks’ size and of their unsuitable arrangement;
• in certain cases, settlements of dykes’ ends, produced by the washing of the material at
their base, as a result of high speeds in these areas, occurred.

12
 Chapter 1

MIDIA

I. Drawings:

1. Layout of Midia Port

2. Cross sections through offshore breakwater and southern breakwater from Midia Port
(1977)

II. Execution stages of Midia Port

Midia Port
I. DRAWINGS
 II. Execution stages of Midia port
In 1938 the work "Taşaul naval base" has been designed. The project provided that the
work will be executed in Taşaul Lake, being bended with the sea by a connection channel, cut in
the littoral band (sand barrier). In this work, Midia port should have to assure the necessary
depths and the access – exit possibilities for ships of any size. From this project, only a section of
900 m has been achieved at the base of the offshore breakwater.
When the Canal Danube – Black Sea, in the variant Cernavodă – Poarta Albă – Năvodari,
has been designed in the '50s, Midia port has been established as terminus point. The existing
breakwater section has been included in the designed works. Between 1950 – 1953 about 800 m
at the offshore breakwater have been executed farther from the existing one, and about 1400 m at
the southern breakwater.
Related to the construction of the Năvodari oil – chemical plant on the littoral band
splitting Taşaul Lake and the sea, in 1977 the works for the achievement of a port at Midia have
been restarted, in order to transport by sea the plant's products.
Initially, it had been foreseen to realize the port by extending the existing breakwaters,
assuring at the access a natural depth of about 8 m.
Subsequently, in order to assure the access of larger ships, the offshore breakwater has
been executed with an angle of 30º reported to the existing breakwater direction. This way, a
higher natural depth in the access mouth, of about 9 m, and an easier access of ships have been
assured.
It has been considered that by maintenance dredging, the depth at the access mouth can be
artificially maintained at 10 m, as the natural depth at the offshore breakwater head is.

Midia Port 18
 Chapter 2

MAMAIA

I. Drawings:
1. Map of the littoral in Mamaia-Constantza area (1978)
2. Schematic layout of existing protection works in Mamaia;
3. Existing situation of MM1 jetty resulted from measurements;
4. Cross sections in the protection works in Mamaia area.

II. Aero-photo Touristic port unfinished precinct, MM1, MM2, MM3, MM4
III. General and detail photos regarding the existing works condition
IV. Description of the execution stages of structures.
V. History of artificial nourishment.

Mamaia
I. DRAWINGS
II. PHOTOS
 Layout of MM1 to MM4-2005

MM4
MM3
MM2
MM1

Sheltering unfinished precint

26
 MM1 jetty and unfinished precinct - 2000

27
 MM1 to MM6 breakwaters - 2000

28
 Mamaia beach in 1965

29
MM1 jetty - 2000

30
 Beach from Hotel Parc area-1976

Local sanding produced by MM1 jetty in the area of Hotel Parc - 1978

31
Discharged material on the beach - 1978

32
 III. Description of the execution stages of structures
The area at south of Midia port – Mamaia beach
The Mamaia section extends between the southern breakwater of Midia port and Singol
head (Pescarie). The length of this section is of about 12.5 km.
In ’70 years the beach erosion phenomenon began to act visibly, especially in the
southern part. Especially the strong storms in 1976, 1977, 1979 and 1981 had major destructive
effects on the beach and on the constructions.
The bathimetric surveys performed starting from 1961 had shown a massive loss of sand
from the submerged beach. Till 1983 the isobath of –10 m had retreated with 250 – 800 m, and
the emerged beach became narrower with an average rhythm of 2 m per year. In 12 years a beach
area of about 280,000 mp had been lost, and the average loss of material on the entire section was
of about 800,000 m3/year.
This phenomenon have been increased by the execution of Midia port breakwaters, which
superposed on the poor quantity of sand discharged through the Danube outlets that supplied the
beaches from south up to Constantza head.
The influence of the port had varied depending on the development stages of this one.
In the stage they had been stopped in 1953, the breakwaters contributed to the erosions of
Mamaia beach. The port basin captured more than 5 millions m3 of alluvia coming from North,
and the breakwaters turned the alluvia current towards offshore.
The breakwaters completion, after 1977, consisted in their extension up to the isobath of –
10 m. At this port design studies have been performed in different stages, based on researches
and laboratory tests, in which the negative effect of the breakwaters on the beach has been shown
and protection measures have been analyzed.
Protection dykes and artificial sand nourishment have been proposed.
The proposed sand sources were: Siutghiol and Tabacarie lakes, the sand deposits from
Midia port and the sand retained by the breakwaters at North of the port and in the access mouth.

Protection of Mamaia beach in the Parc hotel area

As a result of the alarming situation regarding the beach erosion, in 1978 it was necessary
to urgently construct a protection dyke of stick shape in the Parc hotel area, threatened by the
erosion advancement that had reached the piscine neighbor.
The sand cumulated in the dyke area had effects in face of Dacia hotel, as a lack of sand.
In order to avoid the erosion in the area at north of the dyke, an action of beach fill with
material dredged from the bottom of Tabacarie lake has been initiated (27,000 m3).
The very strong storms in January 1981 caused extremely intense erosions along the
entire littoral. The Navodari – Mamaia beach became narrower with 14 to 18 m. For the touristic
season 1981, tens of thousands cubic meters of sand have been transported with mechanical
means for Mamaia beach supply. This sand has been brought from the area of marine dunes
between Mamaia Village and Navodari and from Vama Veche. These reserves shouldn’t been
attacked.

Mamaia 33
 General protection works for Mamaia beach
After the resumption in several times of the project for the general protection and
restoration of the Mamaia beach, the works execution started in 1988. Mean time, the erosions
had rapidly advanced.
The achieved protection solution consists in five longitudinal breakwaters disposed at 450
– 500 m far from the shore, with 250 m length each one, and distances of 250 – 400 m between
them. The breakwaters structure is semi-permeable, being composed of a core of antiffers and an
armour of stabilopodes of 20 tones, on a rock bed.
An artificial beach fill has been also realized, with sand dredged from Siutghiol lake.

The effects of the works

The breakwaters dissipate the energy of waves frontally striking them and diffract the
waves entering between them. As a result, the beach profile behind the breakwaters had changed,
occurring sedimentation areas, called “salient”. The phenomenon had been encouraged by the
artificial beach fill.
Unlike the protected areas, the erosions continued in North even in front of the
breakwaters.

Mamaia 34
 IV. History of artificial nourisment
"Works for Mamaia beach protection, assessment of ecological damages that can
occur after the disposal on Mamaia beach of sand dredged from Siuthghiol Lake"
IRCM (Romanian Institute of Marine Research) Constanta – 1981

From the granulometric analyses performed by IRCM in 1979 – 1980 on the sand from
the northern part of Mamaia beach, a sand grain median diameter (d50) of 0.140 – 0.155
mm had resulted on the high beach and low beach. This one increases at 0.170 – 0.175
mm on the middle beach, in the area of shells deposits and in the same time at the limit
where waves reach on the beach during common storms.
At the shore line d50 usually varies between 0.150 – 0.170 mm.
The shell sand, partially fossilized, brought from the backshore from Mamaia-Village and
disposed on the beach in the central and southern part of Mamaia station in order to
compensate the strong erosion during the storms from the first months of 1981, has
essentially modified the grain composition of the existing natural sand. Thus, in the
southern part of the beach, at the shoreline, just under water face, d50 had values of 0.580
– 0.650 mm in April 1981; just above the shoreline, at the same date, d50 = 0.300 mm.
In the northern profile, in natural conditions, near the shore (3 – 16 m) on the foreshore at
depths of 0.2 – 0.6 m there is a sand more fine than on the emerged beach: d50 between
0.130 – 0.150 mm. At a distance of 50 – 150 m from the shore, in the area of submerged
bars, where the depths vary from 0.5 m to 1.8 m, d50 is also very variable, between 0.120
and 0.200 mm, depending from where the sample is.
In the southern part of Mamaia beach, where sand has been brought from Mamaia-
Village, from the measurement s performed between 5 May an 1 June 1981 between
Casino and Hotel Parc, some important changes have been found out in the grain size of
the sand samples from the foreshore.
At the shoreline the yellow allochthonous sand constantly appears, with d50 between
0.425 and 1.400 mm, containing in some places calcareous gravel. The same sand, mixed
sometimes with grey allochthonous fine sand, appears just near the shoreline under the
water face, having d50 very variable, between 0.200 – 0.800 mm.
It can be observed that the southern profile (Hotel Dacia) has been not affected by the
artificial beach nourishment regarding the chemical and granulometric composition. D50
constantly decreases from the shore to the depth of 1.8 m from 0.160 to 0.080 mm. This
can be explained by the reduced exchange of sand material in transversal plan, due to the
reduced agitation near the dyke executed in 1978 in front of Hotel Parc. In exchange, in
almost of the other profiles up to Casino, there is coarse yellow sand, even on the first
submerged crest, at distances between 13 and 25 m and depths of 0.3 – 1.0 m, with d50 =
0.210 – 0.425 mm. No yellow sand has been found beyond these limits. It is interesting to
remark that the sand grain sizes are larger in this area, reported both to the southern part

Mamaia 35
(explainable by the presence of the dyke and the nourishment with sand from Tabacarie
Lake in 1978 – 1979) and to the northern part of the beach. D50 decreases from 0.160 –
0.190 mm to 0.140 mm up to the depth of 2.0 – 2.3 m.
In spite of the artificial sand nourishment and other protection works, the erosions
continued.
It results that by bringing a sand coarser than the existing sand, this one stay stable only
on the high beach, the rest being modified from granulometric point of view; the larger
fractions are grouped in the area of maximum agitation at the shoreline (the yellow sand
has been almost entirely removed from the middle beach, in both senses, by storms), the
medium and fine fractions are spread on large distances, being deposited also on the
submerged slope, depending on their hydrodynamic characteristics and on the sea
agitation.
The sand from Siutghiol Lake, which will be going to be brought by hydro-mechanization
on the southern part of Mamaia beach, has d50 of 0.190 mm, and is more fine than the
sand brought from Mamaia –Village. Even the values of d50 are not much bigger than the
ones from Mamaia in natural conditions, this sand is much less sorted, more
inhomogeneous. Thus, the natural sand is fine (0.050 – 0.250 mm) in proportion of about
90 % (excepting the shoreline), the proportion of fine sand in the exploitable layers in the
lake is of only 56 %. In exchange, these layers contain important percents of medium
sand (d50 = 0.250 – 0.500 mm) – 24 % and of coarse sand (d = 0.5 – 2 mm) – 17 %, which
are weakly represented in the natural conditions of the beach, but are now present as a
result of the mentioned artificial nourishment. It can be expected that this sand placed on
the beach to be sorted during and after storms, reaching the submerged beach and
contributing to the improvement of its slope.
Regarding the sand with dusty-clayey binding material between the two sand layers on
the lake bottom, the dusty-clayey fraction will be removed towards offshore during the
storm periods, even in case of energy dissipation in the presence of bottom sills. The
condition that this material is removed is to place it not on the beach, but on the foreshore,
keeping permanently a water layer above it, in order to be permanently in contact with the
waves. Certain period of time has to pass till the tendency of silting in the shore area
disappears.

Mamaia 36
 Chapter 3
CONSTANTA
I. Drawings:
1. Schematic layout of the existing protection works in Constanţa area;
2. Layout of C5 jetty up to Tomis port (1985);
3. Layout of C2 jetty up to C5 jetty from Constantza (1986);
4. Layout of C6 jetty up to C5 jetty from Constantza North area (1984);
5. Layout of shelter precinct up to C6 jetty Constantza (1986);
6. Layout plan of shelter precinct and C8 jetty from Constantza (1984);
7. Layout of C2 jetty;
8. Cross sections in C1 jetty (Tomis Port- Northern breakwater);
9. Cross sections in C2 jetty;
10. Layout of jetty C3 from Constantza (1986);
11. Cross sections in C3 jetty from Constantza (1986);
12. Layout plan of C4 jetty from Constantza (1986);
13. Cross sections P1-P8 in C3 and C4 jetties area from Constanta;
14. Longitudinal profile in C5 jetty from Constantza North area (1982);
15. Layout of jetty C6 from Constantza North area (1983);
16. Cross sections in jetty C6 at Constantza (1983);
17. Longitudinal profile in C6 jetty from Constantza North area (1982);
18. Longitudinal profile in C6 jetty- section 2, from Constantza (1983);
19. Longitudinal profile in C6 jetty- section 3, from Constantza (1983);
20. Layout C8 jetty from Constanta (1984);
21. Cross sections 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4 in C8 jetty from Constantza (1984);
22. Cross sections 5-5 and 6-6 in C8 jetty from Constantza (1984);
23. Longitudinal profile sections 1,3- C8 jetty from Constantza (1984);
24. Longitudinal profile C8 jetty, section 2 from Constantza (1984);
25. Layout of shelter precinct from Constantza North area (1984)- stage 1;
26. Cross sections in shelter precinct from Constantza (1984);
27. Longitudinal profiles in shelter precinct from Constantza North area (1984);
28. Longitudinal profiles in detached breakwater A from Constantza North area (1984);
29. Longitudinal profiles in D and E detached breakwaters from Constantza North
area (1986)
30. Detail of retaining wall in Constantza North area (1982);
31. Retaining wall in Constantza cross sections P1-P4 (1982);
32. Longitudinal profile in promenade from Constantza, in Modern beach area (1985);
33. Retaining wall from Constantza in Modern beach area (1985).
34. Constantza port breackwaters-execution stages

II. Aero-photo and general and detail photos regarding the existing works condition
III. Project for beach extension at Constanţa
- Designed protection works – 1966
- Project for the execution of jetty C1 - 1971
IV. Description of the existing situation of the works
V. Constantza Port
I. DRAWINGS
I. Un-graded rubble stone <2t/pcs placed into work by the dumper
II. Un-graded rubble stone <2t/pcs placed into work by the dumper and by the caterpillar
crane
III. Stone blocks of 1-3 t/pcs placed into work by the dumper and by the caterpillar crane
IV. Stabilopodes of 4.5t/pcs placed into work by the dumper
V .Concrete plate BH250
 TOMIS
Port

CONSTANTA
TOWN
1897÷1909
1908÷1967

1967÷1973
1976÷1990

Black Sea
N
or
th
er
n
Br
ea
ck
wa
te
r
Fluvio-maritim basin

South Constanta
Port
Pier 2S
Pier 1S

Danube-Balck Sea
Pier 3S

Canal

Working Zona
Port Libera

Breackwater
thern
Sou

34. CONSTANTZA PORT BREACKWATERS

EXECUTION STAGES
ETAPELE DE EXECUTIE A DIGURILOR
PORTULUI CONSTANTA
II. PHOTOS
 Layout of C1 to C4 - 2005

C3 C4
C2

C1

Tomis Port

74
 Layout of C5 to C6 - 2005

C6

C5

75
 Layout of C7 to C8 - 2005

C7

C8

76
Tomis port and C1 jetty - 2005

C1 jetty - 2005

77
 C2 jetty - 2005

View towards offshore - 2005

78
Damaged slab at the jrtty's base

End of northern branch

79
 C3 jetty - 2005
View from north

Protection between transversal branches

80
C4 jetty - 2005

81
 C5 jetty - 2005
View from the groin head

C6 jetty - 2005

82
83
Retaining wall at north of jetty C6 - 2005

84
85
86
C7 jetty - 2005

C8 jetty - 2005
Southern branch

87
88
 III. Project for beach extension at Constanţa
Designed protection works – 1966 – Cliff protection and arrangement and beach
extension in the northern area of Constantza city

The existing situation at the date of the project

In this area the Black Sea shore is a high shore called cliff, at the base of which there is a
sandy beach of small width, continuing with the sandy sea bottom with very gentle slope.
Before the execution of shore protection works, the cliff has an instability character,
explained this way:
The layers that compose the cliff, starting from the top, are loess laid on reddish earth and
clay under which there is the base rock, yellowish – greenish solid clay, over the limestone rocky
fundament. Under the action of phreatic waters, the intermediary layers of earth and clay got very
weak geotechnical characteristics, making possible the sliding of the superior loess layers, which,
falling, were took by waves towards offshore.
In order to stop the process of littoral destruction, maintained and worsen by the sea,
works have been designed and executed. On one hand, for cliff consolidation, retaining
constructions – reinforced concrete caissons – combined with a phreatic waters draining system
(1957 – 1961) have been executed and on the other hand, dykes meant to extend the beach (1936
– 1939) have been made.
These dykes are:
- a transversal dyke (jetty) of 350 m with two oblique extensions at the end, which is
nowadays the northern limit of Tomis touristic port;
- a longitudinal dyke of 1100 m at north of the point where the transversal dyke head is
projected on the shore; this dyke is composed of a rubble mound dyke of natural stone blocks up
to 3 t/piece, which supports the superior part of concrete, with vertical faces.
The longitudinal dyke is in an advanced degradation condition and it can not longer
protect the base of the cliff against the sea action. The stone blocks have been moved by the
waves, so that in many places the superior part has no support.
These executed works have led to positive effects by:
- moving off the source of cliff destruction, making possible its consolidation by
retaining and draining works;
- encouraging the deposit of sand transported by the waves, at the cliff’s base. This way,
the city’s beach has been formed, having 150 m width and 300 m length. A beach of around 80 m
width has been formed at the back of the longitudinal dyke.
Just near the longitudinal dyke a permanent depth of the sea bottom of 1 – 2 m can be
noticed. This depth is maintained by the bottom current specific to the interference waves that are
formed by the reflection of the waves perpendicular on the dyke vertical face.
The jetty retains on the beach important quantities of quartz sand, characteristic to the
northern zone. This proves that there are accumulations due to the transversal movement of the

Constanţa 89
alluvia transported along the littoral from the Danube outlet on a route that in front of Singol
Head go far from the shore.
Consequently, it can be deduced that the elimination of the degraded longitudinal dyke
would lead to the situation before 1936. For the extension to north of the city’s beach a dykes
system has to be built. Its sanding effect has to include at least the line of the longitudinal dyke
and after that this one could be eliminated.

Designed works
The principle on which the works schemes design has been based consists in the
interposition of works transversally on the wave propagation direction. They would reduce the
waves’ height and also the erosion process during the cold season, increasing the accumulation
during warm season.
It results that for the prevailing wave regime perpendicular on the shoreline, the adequate
type of protection works is represented by the dykes with longitudinal branches. From execution
reasons, they have to be connected to the shore by transversal jetties; because the water depth at
works location does not allow the use of floating equipment, the execution has to be performed
with land equipment.
After processing the results of the researches on small-scale model, ISCH had settled a
graphic method to determine the area that will be filled with sand as a result of the achievement
of a system of two longitudinal dykes connected to the shore. It depends on the geometrical form
in plan of these schemes, assuming a prevailing wave regime perpendicular to the shoreline and
also the achievement of the construction on an equilibrium profile.
For the beach at north of the city few protection schemes have been analyzed. Waves'
action perpendicular and oblique on the shore, it means transversal and longitudinal sediments
movement, has been considered. It has been found that the waves with propagation direction
perpendicular to the shore produce the accumulation of a sand quantity close to the one naturally
produced, comparing the situation from 1961 reported to 1930. The oblique waves produce a
larger accumulation.
Five schemes for beach extension have been studied. In any of these, the constructions are
rubble mound dykes, their slopes and rugosity contributing to waves' energy dissipation.
The characteristics of design wave for structures dimensioning have been determined by
transforming the offshore waves to shallow water waves, using the results of the researches on
waves' regime in Constantza area.
The waves with the most unfavorable action on the dykes, the ones propagated from East
and North-East, at storms with 2 % assurance in time, have been considered.
The cross sections are composed of a core of rubble stone 10 – 100 kg/pcs, covered with
armour of stone blocks of 1 – 3 t/pcs.

Project for the execution of jetty C1 - 1971

Taking into account the wish of the Client to execute the works in stages, only a dyke has
been designed for the beginning.

Constanţa 90
 The dyke is located at 350 from the northern breakwater of Tomis touristic port, and is
parallel to this one.
Between the longitudinal branch axis and transversal branch axis is an inclination of
125º.
For the protection of the breakwater base, a spur composed of two branches of 40 m each
has been provided at a distance of 60.00 m from the base.
The dyke is composed of a core of unsorted rubble stone, having at top 5.00 m width and
+1.00 m level and slopes of 1:1.33.
The protection of the core slopes will be made of stone blocks of 1 – 3 t/pcs, placed in
layers of variable thickness depending on water depth. The block amour has the slope of 1:1.5
and the top at +1.50.
At the depth of -3.00 m, the core top will be replaced on a thickness of 1.00 m with blocks
of 1 – 3 t/pcs in order to assure a better protection in the area with higher waves.
Before the execution of the slope protection with blocks, a layer of stone of 400 – 1000
kg/pcs of 0.50 m thickness will be laid at the breakwater end on a radius of 10.00 m. A
submerged spur of stone 1 – 3 t/pcs blocks will be executed on this layer, with the top at -2.00 m
and the width of 6.00 m. This spur has the role to stand in the way of currents that are formed
along the interior slopes and remove the sand.
Taking into account the sandy bottom sea, a sinking of the stone material on 0.50 m depth
has been considered.
At the breakwater crown, above a leveling layer of crushed stone, a concrete slab of 4.00
m width and 0.30 m thickness will be poured.

Constanţa 91
 IV. Description of the existing situation of the works
The groins from Constanta area have been built in stages.
- The C1 jetty of Y shape, bounds the south of the Modern beach. It is the oldest jetty.
When Tomis harbor has been build, this jetty has been adapted as harbor’s north breakwater. The
northern branch of the jetty, 100 m long, which protects the beach, is seriously damaged.
- The C2 jetty of spoon shape has 30 m of damages at the end of the northern branch, as
well as the slab at the base.
- The C3 and C4 jetties have a π shape and are placed very close to the shore. The C3
jetty is in good condition except the northern head that has the armor layer settled. At two
sections of the C4 jetty, on the northern and southern heads, on 30 m, elements from the core,
slab and armour are dislocated. The southern section is more damaged. The northern branch has
the protection layer of concrete antifer blocks. These jetties have a lower level of the armor layer
and because of that the waves are usually overtop the jetty without any damaging.
- The C5 jetty of L shape has the protection layer on the offshore slope of stabilopodes.
It is in a good condition on the entire length.
- The C6 jetty has a π shape. On proximate 60 m on the northern branch, the crown slab
has been totally removed. The slab is under sweep. From the exterior stabilopodes protection,
some elements have been dislocated and wracked on the slab. There is a soil deposit at the shelter
of the jetty.
- At north of C6, a retaining wall, proximate 100 m long, protects the cliff. This wall is
damaged, in some places, being inclined towards sea and having under sweep sole.
- C7 is a short jetty of about 60 m, used for sustaining the pipe for discharging water
into the sea.
- The C8 jetty has a π shape and is protected by stabilopodes. The jetty is in general in a
good condition. The interior armor layer of southern branch is partially spread. Behind the jetty,
between the two shore transversal branches, there is a soil deposit.
- The execution of the sheltering precinct, placed in the fishery zone, begun in 1989 and
it has been stopped in 1991. Its function was to shelter the naval technical equipments which
were used for the execution or maintenance of Mamaia and Constanta jetties. When the works
have been stopped, the sheltering breakwaters were in execution.
In the present, the situation is the following:
- The northern breakwater is built on its entire length, but it does not have a crown slab
and, on 60 m, the stabilopodes protection does not exist. The stabilopodes protection is missing at
the end of the breakwater in the zone that is the most exposed to the storms.

Constanţa 92
 - The east breakwater (offshore) has the core build, it has no slab and the protection is
partially executed; the stone blocks protection is entirely build and the stabilopodes protection is
build on 1/3 of the length. The stabilopodes armor layer missing leads to deterioration of the core
and the intermediate armor layer. The biggest damage is on the last section, at the access mouth
towards south.
- The southern breakwater is begun from onshore on 50 m and from the offshore
breakwater towards the access mouth. These sections have the same damage grade as the offshore
breakwater and they are in the same execution phase.

V. Contantza port
The port complex of Constanta is formed of two large enclosures, called Constanta North
and Constanta South. The enclosure of Constanta South port has been foreseen to be protected by
two breackwaters, called the Northern breackwater and the Southern breackwater.
The construction works for the two dikes of Constanta port have been executed on stages,
as follows:
Stage I
Between 1897-1967, there had been carried out 1377 m for the Northern breackwater, and 1497m
for the Southern breackwater ( in the port of Constanta North)
Stage II
Between 1967-1973 there had been executed 5330 m of breackwaters.
Stage III ( current situation)
Between 1976-1990 there had been executed 4850 m for the Northern breackwater and the
Southern breackwater with 5560 m length.

Constanţa 93
 Chapter 4
AGIGEA
I. Drawings:
1.Layout of Eforie Nord cliff and Ag1 jetty (1980).
II. Aero-photo Ag1 and detail photos regarding the existing work condition
III. Description of the existing situation of the work
I. DRAWINGS
II. PHOTOS
 Layout of Ag1 - 2005

Ag1

98
 Ag1

99
AG1 Jetty - 2005

100
Northern branch

Southern branch

101
View from Southern branch towards beach

Damaged crown slab

102
Material of beach between AG1 jetty and fishery

Fishery. View towards North

103
 III. Existing situation
The Ag1 jetty of T shape is located at south of Constanta port southern breakwater. Near
the base of the port breakwater there is a fishery protected with stone blocks and stabilopodes.
The jetty has the branch perpendicular to the shore of 36 m length and the southern and
northern longitudinal branches of 22 m each. The crown slab has a width of 4.4 m.
The natural stone blocks protection is proximate at the same level as the slab. The slab is
cracked.
The pocket beach between Ag1 jetty and the fishery is made entirely of rounded stones of
different dimensions, this aspect being found only here.

Agigea 104