Dunkirk dredging project gets EU funding

Work to be carried out at the port includes the widening of the access channel to 240m with a with a dredging level of -18, enlargement of Atlantic Dock swing circle diameter to 650m, the creation of a new rockfill embankment to protect the Loon Dock and dredging of around 4.5 million cubic metres of sediment.

“Port of Dunkerque implements its projects with high environmental standards set in a Project Environment Assurance Plan,” a spokesperson told GreenPort. “For this project, the main focus will be on the dredging activities: the operations will be carried out in appropriate seasons so not to impact marine mammals and the water quality will be monitored on a regular basis during dredging.”

“Through the design of the project, the port also implemented solutions to increase the benefits to the environment from the project: most of dredging materials will strengthen the coastline to limit shore erosion and improve its resilience to climate change,” added the spokesperson.

Some of the dredged sand will be recycled to protect the port’s sea-facing structures and to reinforce the coastline, and some will be temporarily stored in predefined locations and used later in development works in the Port of Dunkirk, while the sludge will be dumped at sea.

For the works phase, a request for co-funding in the framework of the European Union’s TEN-T calls for projects was submitted to the European INEA agency on 26 February 2015. The project is also included in the 2014-2020 State-Region Plan Contract.

Technical design studies, estimated to cost €1.09m, will be completed in June 2015, while the works to enlarge the swing circle and the access channel to the Atlantic Dock will begin later this year and will last for six months.