A dredging campaign to keep Port Taranaki’s shipping channel clear and safe for trade will get underway next week.
The biennial maintenance dredging campaign, which will remove sand and sediment build-up in the harbour channel and berth pockets, will begin on Tuesday, 4 March and take approximately six weeks.
Port Taranaki general manager infrastructure John Maxwell said a hydrographic survey had been completed ahead of the campaign to establish the areas of focus and the approximate amount of sand and sediment that will be removed to maintain the channel depth of 12.5 metres.
“The sand and sediment are driven into the port by the predominant current and wave action that hits the Main Breakwater,” Mr Maxwell explained.
“During the campaign, we expect approximately 400,000m³ of material will be removed and deposited at our two consented drop sites. Fine sand and sediment are deposited at the offshore area, which is about 2km offshore from the port, and clean coarse sand is dropped at the inshore area, which is about 900m off the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre,” he said.
Trailing suction hopper dredge Albatros, which is owned and operated by Dutch Dredging, will carry out the dredging campaign and will operate from 6am-6pm, seven days a week.
“The Albatros will be visible inside the harbour, in the operational area, and close to the Main Breakwater. We ask that recreational and commercial fishermen, kayakers, yachties, jetskiers and other water users please take note of the dredger’s movements and keep clear at all times,” Mr Maxwell said.
Port Taranaki is in the process of preparing an application to renew its maintenance dredging consents, issued by the Taranaki Regional Council. Detailed scientific studies, assessments and modelling are being used to inform the application, and more data will be gathered during the 2025 maintenance dredging campaign to ensure the most up-to-date information is included.
For harbour users, the above lighting configuration denotes when Albatros is carrying out dredging activities.
