River dredging to begin ahead of Arctic Corsair’s arrival

By Andrew Spence

River dredging to begin ahead of Arctic Corsair’s arrival

1. Work is set to begin this week to dredge part of the River Hull in preparation for the Arctic Corsair’s arrival at its new home. The ship is set to become part of a new visitor attraction at the North End Shipyard. The Arctic Corsair is set to find its new home in the dry dock which will form part of an interactive museum.
2. In order for the vessel to arrive at its new home, a section of the River Hull is having to be dredged. Over the next 12 weeks, approximately 3,500 m³ of silt and waste material is being removed from the river, between Drypool Bridge and North Bridge.
3. In the Spring, Hull City Council secured planning permission for the dredging process. In addition to the dredging itself, the planning permission includes using the northern dock at the North End Shipyard to store the dredged material ahead of its disposal.
4. The dredging work is now set to begin on June 4 following the completion of preparatory work and structural surveys on the North Dock. On the process, the leader of Hull City Council, Cllr Mike Ross, said: “This is a technically complex and vital operation that effectively clears the path for the Arctic Corsair’s final journey. By clearing the riverbed and preparing the dock, we are ensuring that when the tides are right this summer, we can bring this piece of Hull’s history home safely. It is a huge logistical challenge, but one that takes us a massive step closer to opening this world-class visitor attraction.”
5. The newly built visitor centre which sits next to the dock has received the globally respected Passivhaus accreditation. This means it has been recognised as the height of energy efficiency, with Passivhaus certified buildings using around 90% less energy than normal buildings.
6. The Arctic Corsair scheme is part of the wider Hull Maritime project, which also includes the restoration of the Maritime Museum. Also linked to the project, albeit funded separately, is the recently completed Queen’s Gardens project. The major city centre site fully opened to the public last week following a £21m refurbishment.

Source