Civil Engineering March 2021 | Vol 29 No 2

Civil Engineering March 2021 75 motions for the channel depth design (the design vessel was a departing laden 150 000 DWT coal carrier, with a draught of 17 m). A series of additional ship motion model studies was undertaken between 1979 and 1991 to optimise the entrance channel for deeper draught bulk carriers, and to determine limiting wave conditions for vessel entry and departure. This led to the compilation of a Port Operation Manual which defined safe operational criteria for the allowance of deep draught bulk carriers into the channel. This manual still forms the basis of vessel entry and departure for the Port of Richards Bay. In addition, Joop was involved in the design of the spending beach breakwater for the Port of Saldanha (1970 to 1974), the nautical design of the Port of Ngqura (1997 to 2001), and the breakwater for the new harbour of Hermanus (2005 to 2008). Joop also pioneered systematic break- water monitoring as an aid to facilitate the timeous planning of maintenance and repairs to breakwaters, as well as to aid interpretation of physical model results by linking prototype damage to model results. This was initially done through photography from boats and crane-based surveys of cross-sections, and later ex- tended to more cost-effective GPS-linked helicopter surveys. Today this has evolved into drone surveys and is regularly per- formed by port owners world-wide. During the period 1988 to 1991, Joop devoted much of his research time to hydraulic structures. He was manager of the model study for the design of Katse Dam in Lesotho (1988 to 1990), the model study for the Morning Glory spillway of the Zoeknog Dam (1989 to 1990), and compiled a hydraulics design manual for bridges for the Water Research Commission (1990 to 1991). From 1980 onward, Joop was exten- sively involved in advisory work in Israel, where much of this work was devoted to the Port of Ashdod. The first phase of the port expansion took place from 1980 to 1991, with an extension of the main breakwater, followed by the second phase from 1993 to 2007. Studies for a third expansion phase followed from 2009 to 2012, which included a further significant breakwater extension. Construction of this breakwater extension was recently completed, while the full port expansion is still in progress. During 2005/6, Joop undertook a nautical study for the Port of Ashdod and was the supervisor of ship manoeuvring simulation studies undertaken at the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands simulator. His involvement in Ashdod resulted in further work in Israel, which included the breakwater designs for the Herzlia, Ashkelon, and Haifa marinas (1992 to 1999), as well as for the main Port of Haifa breakwater (1993 to 2004), and the cooling water intakes for the power plants at Ashdod and Ashkelon (1989 to 1998). A GLOBAL AUTHORITY During his 33 years at the CSIR, Joop proved to be an excellent and meticulous researcher, as well as a stimulating mentor for young engineers. Coastal engineering was a young discipline in the 1960s and the construction of the hydraulics labora- tory in Stellenbosch became a catalyst for the development of this specialist field of civil engineering. Consequently, many of the presently practicing senior coastal engineers in South Africa crossed paths with Joop and had at least part of their training and professional development under his guidance. Joop published widely to ensure that others shared in his research findings and is the author and co-author of 160 contract/research reports and of some 72 publications in the local and interna- tional media. Through his publications, South Africa has become internationally known as a country with a world-class coastal engineering fraternity and modelling facilities. Joop will be remembered as an authority in coastal and port engineering, even on the global stage. The successful operation of the breakwaters of the primary ports in South Africa bear testa- ment to his knowledge and dedication. For decades to come, his contributions will be remembered and used in the solutions to engineering problems in South Africa and abroad. Furthermore, Joop and his beloved wife Hennie will be remembered for their hospitality and generosity when it came to social functions. Many staff and Christmas parties were held at their home, where Joop kept his garden in meticulous condition. Joop was a devoted family man and always proud of his five beautiful daughters. We salute this great colleague! Prepared by Hans Moes and André van Tonder Joop, together with other members of the CSIR laboratory team at the time