POLARIS Marine’s tug Molly Grace, fitted with a sweep bar, has successfully completed TasPorts’ seabed levelling maintenance program at Burnie.
The 13-day program was completed with no disruption to vessel movements, customers or port users, supporting safe navigation, efficient operations and continued operational continuity, TasPorts says.
More than 3,500 cubic metres of naturally accumulated sand and sediment were redistributed across key operational areas, helping restore a flatter seabed profile, maintain safe navigational depths and support the reliability and resilience of port operations, the government business enterprise announced today [19 August].
A port-wide hydrographic survey has since confirmed the success of the works with improvements gained across most of the areas worked. A harbour master Instruction has now been issued to mariners.
All works were undertaken in accordance with relevant Environmental Protection Authority requirements, legislative obligations and TasPorts’ EPA-approved Environmental Standard – Seabed Levelling.
TasPorts says it also remains committed to the longer-term dredging campaign for the Port of Burnie, which is separate to the completed seabed levelling maintenance works and continues to progress through the required environmental approvals process.
Other works underway in the port include the reconstruction/remediation of the wharf structure of Strait Link’s ro-ro terminal at Berth 4.
TasPorts’ contractors last month completed a 12-week dredging campaign in Devonport’s Mersey River, ahead of schedule. The NZ trailing suction hopper dredge Albatross was used.
The work was undertaken ahead of the end-October entry into Bass Strait service of newbuild ro-paxes Spirit of Tasmania IV and V. Spirit IV will visit Devonport from Melbourne to undertake berthing trials at the new TT Line terminal.