Milford Haven Port is the biggest port in Wales, the third largest in the UK, and is one of the largest oil and gas ports in northern Europe. With 25 per cent of the UK’s petrol and diesel provisions as well as up to 30 per cent of the UK’s gas requirements being handled through the Port’s waterways, Milford Haven is at the centre of a developing UK energy hub.
Anthony D Bates Partnership LLP (ADBP) were appointed specialist dredging consultants for Milford Haven Port Authority (MHPA) for the 2011 maintenance Dredging campaign, continuing their long term association. ADBP were engaged as Engineers to the works with the role to organise and oversee all aspects of the contract, including the dredging operations and survey works. This dredging campaign represented the first use of the new 5 year maintenance dredging disposal license recently granted by the Welsh Assembly Marine Consents Unit to Milford Haven Port Authority.
The maintenance dredging was undertaken by the trailing suction hopper dredger ‘UKD Bluefin’ and the plough dredger ‘UKD Sealion’, part of UK Dredging’s fleet. Survey support was supplied by the Dutch company DEEP BV, in conjunction with their annual Haven wide bathymetric monitoring survey. The programme of works included three areas in which a total of approximately 170,000 tonnes of sediment was dredged and disposed of in one of two disposal sites. Due to the sensitive environmental nature of the surrounding waters these disposal sites are located at distances of 22km and 45km from the middle of the haven. The contract was completed on time and on budget and all conditions were fulfilled to the satisfaction of Milford Haven Port Authority.
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Dredging Today Staff, December 12, 2011; Image: anthonybates