Posted on March 3, 2025
A dredging campaign to keep the shipping channel at New Zealand’s Port Taranaki clear and safe for trade will commence within this week.
The biennial maintenance dredging campaign, which will remove sand and sediment build-up in the harbour channel and berth pockets, will take approximately six weeks.
Port Taranaki general manager infrastructure John Maxwell said a hydrographic survey had been completed ahead of the campaign to establish the areas of focus and the approximate amount of sand and sediment that will be removed to maintain the channel depth of 12.5 metres.
“The sand and sediment are driven into the port by the predominant current and wave action that hits the main breakwater,” Mr Maxwell explained.
“During the campaign, we expect approximately 400,000 cubic metres of material will be removed and deposited at our two consented drop sites.”
Fine sand and sediment are deposited at the offshore area, which is about two kilometres offshore from the port, and clean coarse sand is dropped at the inshore area, which is about 900 metres off the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre.
The trailing suction hopper dredger Albatros, which is owned and operated by Dutch Dredging, will carry out the campaign and will operate from 06:00 to 18:00 local time, seven days a week.
Port Taranaki is also in the process of preparing an application to renew its maintenance dredging consents, issued by the Taranaki Regional Council.
Detailed scientific studies, assessments and modelling are being used to inform the application, and more data will be gathered during the 2025 maintenance dredging campaign to ensure the most up-to-date information is included.
