Melbourne to dredge channel

Recent hydrographic surveys have shown that the declared depth at sections of the channel have been compromised by up to 0.3 of a metre, which imposes a constraint on the movement of deep draught vessels. As a result marker buoys have been installed and shipping issued with a precautionary series of Notices to Mariners advising of the reduced depth.

Dredging is expected to take approximately six weeks, with around 300,000 cubic metres of sand being removed. This volume represents approximately two per cent of the volume dredged from the same channel during its earlier deepening project.

“Reduced draught access is an impediment to the port and is akin to a lane closure on a major highway,” said PoMC CEO, Stephen Bradford.