Dredging work has begun in Newport harbour as part of a £370,000 project to improve facilities and increase the depth of the channel used by boats to navigate the River Medina.
The Poole-based Jenkins Marine vessel, Doreen Dorward, entered the harbours waters today (Thursday) – the first time a ship conducting dredging works has done so since the 1970s. Silt is set to be removed from the harbour as part of Isle of Wight Council powers in a bid to maintain a navigable channel for recreational and commercial traffic.
Recovered silt is set to be disposed of at an approved location at sea, with the harbour remaining open during the works and a Notice to Mariners being posted.
The Newport works are the latest to be undertaken by Jenkins Marine, with other projects being completed in Poole, Southampton and the River Hamble. In November of last year, the specialist firm and its Doreen Dorward also assisted in the renovation of Totland Pier by installing 17 piles to form new foundations at the end of the structure.
Suddenly, after decades of neglect, IW Council realise they are about to have no harbour – not that they cared before somebody came up with a scheme to make money!
In the meantime, other urgent dredging projects on the river are being seriously delayed.
The biggest dredging scheme has just happened, Dave Steward and some of his cronies have been thrown out with the sludge.
After decades of neglect, IW Council have suddenly decided they had better do something or lose the harbour completely. Anything to do with somebody having come up with a money-making plan?
Meanwhile, urgent dredging work elsewhere in the river is on hold while IWCouncil take priority.
Apololgies for the duplication, Island Echo hide comments for an arbitrary period so you think the’ve got lost!
The removel of silt just happens to concide with the removal of the Tory Council Leader.
A coincidence?