Dredging of the Outer Harbour and Shipping Channel commenced this week at the Port of Townsville.

Forming part of a regular maintenance program, this campaign will continue for the next five weeks and will cost approximately $3 million.

Approximately 300,000m³ of natural infill material is expected to be removed from the channels and relocated to a pre-approved sea disposal site, in accordance with strict environmental guidelines.

All vessel operators are requested to stay clear of dredging operations which will be conducted by the dredging vessel, Brisbane. The Brisbane is on its return journey to Brisbane after completing its annual northern dredging campaign around various ports in Queensland.

Matthew O’Halloran, General Manager Operations, said: “Dredging is one of the more important aspects of our operations as it ensures sufficient water for ships to operate and maximises the amount of cargo a ship can carry into or out of the Port. It is essential that the Authority dredges to maintain safe navigation depths and ensure efficiencies for our customers.”

Type of Dredging Vessel:
The Brisbane is a trailing suction dredge vessel which uses a suction pipe and head to vacuum the dredged material onto the vessel. Consider it to be a super sized version of the home vacuum cleaner.