Problems remain with Santos dredging ambitions

Resources to deepen the draft at Santos are available through the Accelerated Growth Programme, but all the quotes received so far have been higher than budgeted. If the quotes are not adjusted a new tender will have to be issued.

In the short term, CODESP has signed a stop-gap contract with Van Oord worth $7m. This will involve removing silt from three of four sections of the access channel to the port. The agreement, which also covers access to the berths and the berths themselves, is valid for a period of four months.

In the longer term, a three-year contract is on offer to undertake a more extensive dredge, to be awarded by the Ports Ministry.