Dredger Returns to Port Otago

Trailing suction hopper dredger New Era has returned from Lyttelton, where she was undertaking the annual maintenance dredging, and is re-commencing Stage 1 of the Port Otago’s capital dredging works.

The dredging, part of the ‘Next Generation Port Otago’ infrastructural program, will allow larger ships to access Port Chalmers.

The New Era will be used to remove sand, silt and clay materials from within the Lower Harbor channel and dispose them at the consented offshore disposal sites.

Stage 1 works include areas located along the full length of the channel from the entrance to the Port Chalmers Swinging Basin. The target depths for the completion of Stage 1 are 13.5m inside the harbor, and 15.0m depth outside the harbor in the entrance.

The dredging program is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

[mappress mapid=”21532″]