To ensure the safe movement of vessels in and around port areas, dredging activities are undertaken at ports around the world.
Tasmania's multi-port system is no exception and TasPorts regularly undertakes dredging activities, in line with its Long-Term Dredge Management Strategy.
Through this strategy, TasPorts is committed to enabling our customers and industry partners, whilst upholding maritime and environmental standards.
By ensuring the water is deep enough for ships to prevent grounding on the seafloor.
A well dredged port enables smoother and faster loading and unloading of cargo from ships.
Efficient and safe port operations support business and industries using the port. If not completed, operations can be restricted, negatively impacting our customers and local economies.
Maintenance dredging enables our ports to adapt to sediment changes and build up that naturally occur over time from flooding, storms, ocean swell and tidal movements.
The Port of Devonport is fed by the Mersey catchment system, which annually accumulates approximately 40,000m3 of sediment, therefore requires regular maintenance dredging.
On 17 March 2026, TasPorts commenced a planned 14-week dredging campaign, which will see the removal and relocation of up to 470,000 cubic metres of accumulated silt, sand and cobbles to a designated offshore disposal ground. Dutch Dredging Australia Pty Ltd has been appointed to complete the dredging campaign using trailing suction hopper dredger - Albatros.
This dredging campaign is the first to be completed under TasPorts' 10-year Sea Dumping Permit, issued by the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). The approval of TasPorts' dredging permit was underpinned by extensive environmental assessments, detailed planning and meaningful engagement with stakeholders, including its independent Technical Advisory Consultative Committee (TACC).
This permit allows for the safe relocation of dredged material to a new offshore disposal site, located approximately 15 kilometres offshore.
TasPorts' approved 10-year Sea Dumping Permit is available for download below, as well as TasPorts' Long-term Monitoring and Management Plan for the upcoming planned dredging campaign.
.
.
TasPorts has deployed six water quality monitoring buoys near the Devonport port area and Mersey River, which are providing 24/7 real-time water quality data.
Supported by a dedicated Port of Devonport Adaptive Monitoring and Management Plan, TasPorts will appropriately respond to any identified changes in turbidity levels throughout the project.
The early deployment of the water quality monitoring buoys support baseline data collection, enabling TasPorts to effectively monitor and respond to any changes in water quality during the dredge campaign. Rolling 6-day and 15-day averages of live water quality monitoring data is available through the link below.
.