A sediment trap to mitigate port silting due to longshore transport. The case of Pinetamare Marina (Southern Italy)

The Pinetamare Marina, located SE of the mouth of the Volturno River and the Regi Lagni Canal (southern Italy), is interested by silting phenomena due to longshore transport of fluvial sediments. To eliminate this severe problem, the design of the new Marina includes the construction of a sediment trap, placed perpendicular to the breakwater, to prevent the accumulation of the sand sediments at the marina entrance. To study the efficiency of this solution, experiments were performed through a physical model in a wave basin, with appropriate scaling of the geometric characteristics and of the hydrodynamic processes. The experimental tests highlighted that the trap is able to intercept sediments and to mitigate the port silting for about two years, after which it is necessary to dredge the accumulated sand sediments. These sediments are used to compensate the erosion of the beaches downstream the breakwater.