Rock armour
We are the UK’s specialist national contractor for earthmoving, crushing & recycling, and flood, coast & marine defence works.
Graded armourstone for revetments, breakwaters, sea walls and outfall protection
Rock armour forms the frontline of many coastal and marine defence systems. OEC supplies and installs precisely graded armourstone for revetments, breakwaters, sea walls and outfall protection.
Each scheme requires careful stone selection to meet size, density and durability specifications. Placement is carried out using specialist grapples to ensure optimal interlocking and energy absorption. Toe protection and crest detailing are executed to maintain long-term hydraulic stability – accurate to tight tolerances and design placement densities.
Working within sensitive marine environments, we operate biodegradable oils and adhere strictly to environmental management plans. Our plant fleet is maintained to ensure reliability during tidal operations where downtime is not an option.
We sustain structural integrity through quality-controlled installation. We protect assets from wave energy and scour. We enhance resilience by forming durable, low-maintenance defence systems.
With a proud reputation for having one of the most modern fleets, OEC continues to invest in low-emission and hybrid plant to reduce environmental impact without compromising performance. Our fleet incorporates fuel-efficient, hybrid and Stage V compliant machinery, significantly lowering carbon emissions, fuel consumption and noise levels across operations. This allows us to operate more sustainably in sensitive coastal and urban environments, while maintaining the power, reliability and productivity required for demanding marine and earthmoving projects.
Our expert operators, many with decades of coastal and marine experience, ensure consistent, reliable performance in complex and changeable environments. Their understanding of tidal conditions, ground stability and precise material placement is critical to maintaining safety, programme certainty and build quality where there is little margin for error.
OEC delivers rock armour solutions that combine engineering precision with environmental responsibility.
Cromer
Southsea Coastal Scheme
Frequently Asked Questions
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OEC delivers rock armour installation within sensitive coastal and marine environments using tightly controlled working methods, including tidal planning, exclusion zones and disciplined plant coordination. We operate with biodegradable hydraulic oils, adhere to environmental management plans and maintain high plant reliability to ensure safe, efficient delivery within restricted tidal windows.
OEC supplies and installs graded armourstone for revetments, breakwaters, sea walls and outfall protection. We manage stone placement, toe protection and crest detailing to ensure compliance with hydraulic design requirements and long-term structural stability.
OEC uses specialist grapples and experienced coastal operators to place armourstone with controlled interlock and correct placement density. Works are carefully executed to engineering tolerances, ensuring effective energy absorption and long-term resistance to wave action and scour.
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