Mitigation of Marine Aggregate Dredging Impacts – Benchmarking Equipment, Practices and Technologies against Global Best Practice
- Reference:
- 08/P33
- Organisation:
- Emu Ltd (with Delft University and TG Marine Ltd)
- Amount Funded:
- £66,610
- Status:
- Complete
Dredging equipment, practices, technologies and case studies
from around the world are currently being compiled into a reference
literature database. TG Marine Ltd is at present assessing the
English dredging fleet. This will be used to benchmark marine
aggregate dredging impacts, including physical and biological
impacts on the water column, sea bed and atmosphere from noise,
direct disturbance, sedimentation, pollution and changes in
bathymetry. What constitutes marine aggregate dredging best
practice can then be defined for all stakeholders (developers,
regulators, government bodies, environmental groups and other
interested parties).
The study will consider the potential improvements for marine
dredging in terms of environmental performance. Potential
sensitivities will be assigned to each impact and the mitigation
possibilities explored. From this an evaluation of marine dredging
best practice attractiveness to industry and stakeholders and its
feasibility, achievability and economic benefits will be
appraised.
The final report will form a reference and include case studies
and grey literature. The project will benefit a range of marine
aggregate industry stakeholders from environmental and regulatory
to industry members. The project will be completed in the first
quarter 2010.