“ During the next three months up to 177,000 cubic meters of silt will be dredged and relocated to an approved disposal site 10 kilometers offshore. The work will involve a barge-mounted excavator, suction dredge, tug, split hopper barge and survey vessel which may be operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week ,” Mr Wilson said.

Mr Wilson added that the wide range of special arrangements in place for the dredging works also include measures to protect the local dolphin population and other marine fauna that had been approved by the Environmental Protection Authority and would see daily monitoring, special on-water exclusion zones, seasonal restrictions on some types of work and reduced vessel speed limits to limit any impact.