EROSION FROM DISPLACEMENT WAVES ALONG THE MALAMOCCO MARGHERA CHANNEL

Loss of sediment from the Lagoon of Venice has been a well-known problem for many years. The erosion has been pronounced in the central part of the lagoon, where the navigational channel leading from the Malamocco Marghera Mouth to the industrial harbour of Marghera on the mainland west of Venice is also located. Previous studies have shown high concentrations of suspended sediment in the water column close to and inside the channel during and after vessel passages in the channel. The ‘Channeling the Green Deal for Venice’ project has sought to find means to mitigate this problem while balancing the continued functionality of the harbour. This paper describes a numerical model used in the study to simulate vessel generated hydrodynamics and erosion from displacement waves. Another important topic of the project has been the navigational safety.