Dredging Performance
Maintenance dredging campaigns are periodically carried out to ensure sufficient depths of water exist for vessels to navigate and manoeuvre safely. Without this work, the risk of marine accidents – and the potentially catastrophic consequences for the environment – would be increased. Almost all of our ports require dredging to maintain navigational channels.
However, we believe that by setting targets, our environmental management of dredging can be improved across the ports. The table below shows the commitments we have set and our progress:
|
Dredging Commitments |
Progress to Date |
Action |
|
Obtain longer-term dredging licences that comply fully with the interpretations of the Habitats Directive. |
Longer-term dredging licence revieved for Humber Vessel Traffic Services following agreement with English Nature (Natural England), the Department for Transport and DEFRA. | Practice to be extended to other ports. |
| Complete a pilot study for maintenance dredging protocol partnerships with EN, DfT and DEFRA and investigate opportiunities for more beneficial use of dredging | A pilot study on the Humber confirmed that our dredging activities do not adversely impact on the conservation of the estuary | To use the pilot study to complete the process of obtaining longer term dredging licences that comply fully with interpretations of the Habitats Directive |
| Organise EU-wide workshop and report back to EU on maintenance dredging and environmental issues as part of EcoPorts Foundation | Completed. Recommendations for further research into wasy of improving environmental issies at ports have been submitted to the EU for funding | To finalise development work for better environmental management in EU ports and establish this as good practice within EcoPorts Foundation |
|
Endeavour to increase the use of dredged material for beneficial purposes year on year [The system is not applicable to all dredging but will be used as often as practically possible. ] |
Ongoing |
Port of Ipswich – Has introduced a system to promote the recycling of dredging spoil within the estuary to promote intertidal habitats |
The table will be updated as progress continues against each Commitment