Ishikawa Prefecture has started preparation work to dismantle and remove a massive sediment-removal hose that washed ashore on the Shiga-town coast [1].
The removal of the industrial equipment is necessary to restore the beach and ensure that local fishing ports and coastal activities can return to normal operations [1].
The hose, which was originally used for underwater sediment removal, has an estimated weight of 300 tons [1]. It stretches approximately 150 meters in length [1]. Because of its immense size and weight, the prefectural government is employing a multi-stage recovery process to clear the shoreline.
Work crews are cutting the hose into manageable sections to facilitate transport [1]. Once dismantled, the pieces will be moved by ship to a nearby fishing port located about one kilometer away [1]. To support the operation, workers are laying steel plates on the beach so that heavy machinery can reach the site without sinking into the sand [1].
Officials said the removal process is slated to be finished by autumn 2024 [1]. The operation requires precise coordination between maritime transport and land-based heavy equipment to ensure the debris is cleared without further damaging the coastal environment [1].
“The hose has an estimated weight of 300 tons.”
The presence of such massive industrial debris on a public coastline highlights the logistical challenges of maritime recovery. The need for specialized infrastructure, such as steel plating for heavy machinery, indicates that the hose's weight significantly exceeds the load-bearing capacity of the natural shoreline, necessitating a slow, phased extraction to avoid environmental degradation.
