Ports and coastal infrastructures often face challenges related to balancing coastal protection with environmental responsibility. The Port of Bilbao needed a solution that could provide effective coastal defense while enhancing marine biodiversity—a challenge that traditional gray infrastructure solutions often fail to address.

In collaboration with ECOncrete, the Port of Bilbao locally produced and installed high-density Coastalock single layer interlocking armor units, using design specifications, molds, materials, and technical support provided by ECOncrete. These armor units feature water-retaining cavities that create sheltered wells, helping retain water and provide microhabitats for marine flora and fauna. This innovative design allows for the integration of habitat creation into essential coastal defense infrastructure.

By using ECOncrete’s Coastalock units, the project is intended to achieve increased coastal resilience while simultaneously providing ecological benefits that foster marine life.

The Port of Bilbao project demonstrates the power of eco-engineering to do double duty—supporting human needs by enhancing coastal resilience through wave attenuation, while enriching natural systems. By encouraging the growth of native marine organisms, these structural Coastalock armor units enhance biodiversity, supporting crustaceans, algae, and fish species.