Coastal Engineering
Gabion Baskets for Coastal and Marine Protection
Coastal gabion baskets and gabion mattresses deal with salt, waves, moving sand and scour at the toe. This is the short page. The longer note on waves, tidal scour and coatings is the coastal gabion baskets guide. Steel-wire gabions need a coating that survives the splash zone. Polypropylene composite gabion mesh is considered because it has no steel-wire rust mechanism. It is not a seawall, and it is not maintenance-free.
Technical Knowledge Team · Updated 3 October 2026 · 6 min read
What is different from a river bank
Salt, a rising and falling waterline, and wave impact sit on top of the usual scour problem. Sand abrades the mesh. Debris hits it. A coating that was credible inland can be the weak part here. The coastal study, not a product page, sets the wave and the scour depth.
Mesh in salt water
Galvanized and PVC-coated gabion wire depend on the coating staying continuous. Splash and a scratch are how the steel meets the sea. Polypropylene composite mesh does not rust by that path. You still check abrasion, UV on the dry part of the face, impact, and the connection. Do not state a year of life for either mesh from this page.
The toe, the filter and the crest level decide whether the gabion is still there after a storm. Changing the mesh and leaving a short toe is how coastal work fails with a clean data sheet.
Frequently asked questions
Is polypropylene suitable in seawater?
It avoids steel-wire rust. Seawater use still needs a check of abrasion, UV, the joint and the hydraulic design. It is not an approval by itself.
Can gabions replace a concrete seawall?
They are a different structure. Waves, foundation and the permit decide. Do not swap the names.
Project-specific support
Send drawings and exposure conditions for technical review
Product information supports evaluation and procurement; final design and regulatory compliance remain project-specific.