Port Phillip Bay dredging nears completion

Stephen Bradford, CEO of PoMC, said that the maximum allowable shipping depth had been increased from the previous 11.6 m, providing an immediate remedy to the Port’s draught constraint and enabling container ships the potential to carry more cargo.

The increase in depth is an incremental advance ahead of the overall completion of channel deepening in late 2009, which is designed to provide 14 metres draught without tidal assistance.

He said the project was still ahead of schedule and under budget, adding that its completion by the end of this month (August) would eliminates potential disruption to Bay users in spring and the 2009/10 summer season. It also means the Port is into the final stages of completing Victoria’s largest marine infrastructure project.