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Harwich Haven Authority has awarded its latest maintenance dredging contract to Boskalis Westminster. The contract will run for one year, from December 2023 to December 2024.
According to the Authority, maintenance dredging is carried out approximately five times a year, to ensure that Harwich Harbour’s deepwater channel remains at a minimum 14.5 metres below chart datum.
Each round of dredging involves removal of about 500,000 cubic metres of silt from the harbour.
Generally, the contractors’ trailer suction hopper dredger (TSHD) has a full load after working for 30 minutes in the harbour.
This material is then taken out to the licensed Inner Gabbard disposal site – it is not dumped on the sea bed, but released in 30 metres of water in what is known as a ‘dispersive site’.