The Port Network Authority is preparing to launch a massive 195,000m3 harbour dredging operation in Livorno over a 200,00o m2 area.
A few days ago, a call for tenders, worth 6.8 million euros, was published in view getting certain berths fully operational again.
The need arose following the latest harbour bathymetric surveys which revealed a generalized silting up. This is, presumably, due to the sediment coming in from the Navicelli canal (at the root of the Darsena Toscana), the Ugione stream (at the root of the Darsena Ugione), the Botticina stream (in the industrial canal) and the Northern entrance to the port.
One of the dredging operations on the cards is the deepening of berth 75, which is mainly intended for cruise ships. At present only part of it is usable.
This public berth is in fact 300 metres long. The last section, which is about 60 metres long, is not operational due to its depths, which average -9 metres, and – 5.4 metres at its shallowest.
The purpose of this dredging project will therefore be to make the berth fully functional again. Once completed, it will be able to accommodate even larger ships than the current ones.
Dredging operations will also take place in front of the Darsena Petroli Oil terminal berths (Nos. 10 and 11, to allow 13m maximum draughts) and at berths 36A and 38, at the entrance to the industrial canal, to bring its seabed depth down to – 9.5 metres.
190,000 of the 195,000 m3 of sediment from the dredging operations, will be discharged into the second containment basin and 5,000 will be sent to a recovery and disposal plant.
The work is scheduled to be completed in 330 consecutive days once the site has been handed over.
The deadline for the submission of proposals is set for 8th August.
Translation by Giles Foster
