Fremantle Ports has announced maintenance dredging plans to remove 10,000 m3 of sediment for roughly five days from 23 June.
The dredger Modi R ((IMO: 8876091; Denmark-flag; LOA 63.4 metres), is a trailing suction hopper dredger, and the hydrographic survey vessel Rind R (MMSI: 503686400), will be in operation for 24 hours during the project but, Fremantle Ports notes, commercial shipping ought not to be adversely affected by dredging operations.
Maintenance dredging is require to remove sediment that builds up in the Inner Harbour from the Swan River estuary since the last dredging in 2010.
“The dredging will allow safe access for ships into the Inner Harbour, and ensure the berths remain deep enough for larger container vessels. The maintenance dredging footprint remains within the 2010 capital dredging footprint,” Fremantle Ports says.
About 80,000 m3 of sediment will be removed under the current plan to 2029, with a further 5,000 m3 of sediments to be removed each year on three occasions from 2026 to 2029.
Dredged sediment will be disposed of at the offshore Gage Roads N6 anchorage site.