THE PORT OF MELBOURNE has signed a new, 12-year maintenance dredging contract with Dutch specialist Boskalis.
PoM said although this new agreement – which became effective on 1 February – followed an extensive procurement process to achieve a new contract “that best meets our requirements”, Boskalis’ familiarity with the port and understanding of the unique challenges posed by South Channel and Port Phillip Heads will support PoM “in the ongoing facilitation of safe and efficient shipping”.
“Our first campaign will utilise a Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger Beachway, which is scheduled to arrive in Melbourne mid-April to commence operations,” a PoM spokesperson told DCN.
“Port of Melbourne has developed a long-term maintenance dredging strategy that will see regular maintenance dredging occurring across the term of the agreement. Dredging has been routinely conducted in Port Phillip and the port area for over 100 years to maintain the declared channel depths and allow the safe navigation of vessels and the efficient transport of cargo.”
For its part, Boskalis posted on social media that over the past 115 years, the company has made its mark in many corners of the world.
“Some locations have seen our presence more frequently than others, and the Port of Melbourne in the state of Victoria stands out as a prime example,” Boskalis said.
“Since 2000, we’ve consistently carried out maintenance dredging in this vibrant port. On top of that, between 2002 and 2008, our mega trailing suction hopper dredger Queen of the Netherlands played a vital role in deepening the port’s access channel to 14 metres.
“And now Boskalis and the Port of Melbourne have found each other in a new ‘Melbourne-made match’. We thank the Port of Melbourne for the long-term cooperation and trust and are looking forward to the many maintenance campaigns we will carry out Down Under.”
Also on social media PoM’s head of maritime operations Warwick Laing quoted new dredging manager Daren Korwa: “Ports need ships and ships need water!”, saying he couldn’t have summed up the need for maintenance dredging any better than that.
