Dredging of Maputo Port shipping channel begins

The dredging of the access channel to the Port of Maputo to accommodate vessels with a sailing draft of up to 14.2 m on the tide, has commenced. The milestone of one million m³ of dredged material has already been achieved. The first of three dredgers mobilized by Jan de Nul Dredging Middle East FZE arrived in the Port on the 20 May.

During the 10 months period of the dredging works, it is estimated that a volume of 12 million m³ will be dredged from the channel. On completion, the dredging project will enable access for ships of up to 80 000 t.

Several dredgers and supporting equipment have been used for this operation, including, De Lapérouse, a trailing suction hopper dredger. Other equipment mobilised by Jan de Nul include split hoppers, a surveying boat, a crew boat and a multitasking boat.

Paulo Mata, Executive Projects, said: "There is a permanent coordination between the dredger and the dredging team involved on the one hand and the port operations on the other hand, in order to ensure the accessibility of the channel. Maritime operations have, of course, priority and the dredging will cause no disturbance to regular port operations”.

Dredging the channel is one of a range of projects embarked upon by MPDC and various terminal operators within the Port of Maputo recently, including the expansion of the ferrochrome terminal, new grain terminal, the expansion of the container terminal and rehabilitation of berths 3, 4 and 5.

Edited from press release by Angharad Lock

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/handling/15072016/dredging-of-maputo-port-shipping-channel-begins-3719/