Posted on August 13, 2025
Dredging International, one of the world’s “big four” dredging operators, has recently secured work in Port Hedland.
The Nile River, a trailing suction hopper dredge, is expected to undertake this project sometime in September.
While the dredging sector was quiet until the Scarborough project, we have seen some work return to the Australian coast, along with an increased presence from Dredging International, who haven’t operated here since the Wheatsone project back in 2013.
Our dredging industry agreements have reclaimed essential conditions that were stripped away by employers in years past.
We’ve won back key entitlements, including:
- Two floater positions for projects with 16 or more personnel on board.
- Double bubble and double leave for every single day of overcycle.
- The removal of oppressive 5-week swing cycles, ensuring only 3- or 4-week rotations.
These are just some of the hard-fought gains we’ve reintroduced.
Dredging projects are short-term by nature and short-term work like this demands good pay and great conditions.
It’s rumoured that the next round of dredging will be at Mardie Salt next year sometime. The tender hasn’t gone out, but wont be far off.
