UK: Gloucester Docks to Test New System of Dredging

The Canal and River Trust’s plans to clear silt from the Gloucester Docks, using a new system of dredging, have been welcomed by organisers, BBC reports.

Paul Fox from the Canal and River Trust said: “The system we have been using for the last 10 to 15 years is known as water injection dredging where we disturb the sediments from the bed of the dock with a jet of water and we flush it out through Gloucester Lock by raising sluices.“

“The new system is more akin to hoovering, where we suck up the sediments from the bed with a huge vacuum pump and discharge them through a pipeline. It’s a more efficient method,” added Fox.

The dredging plan still needs to be agreed by the Environment Agency.

If approved it is due to start in November.

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Dredging Today Staff, August 3, 2012