On Long Beach Island, sand is being pumped ashore to help replenish and strengthen beaches eroded by Hurricane Sandy. In the first photo, the sand is being delivered via pipeline by the ship at far left, which dredged it still farther offshore. (Click the photos for a closer look).
A cage covers the business end of the pipeline to corral larger items inadvertently introduced into the operation; reportedly these have included WWII ordinance that were transported by the Army Corps of Engineers to a remote site, and detonated. More commonly the cage holds nothing more than the remains of unlucky bottom-dwelling sea creatures sucked up with the sand. In the second photo, seagulls are enjoying an invigorating foot bath while biding their time till the buffet opens.
Beach replenishment
Surf City, New Jersey
