Suction dredge halfway into its port contract

HELPED by a spell of good weather, the major dredging contract at Eastland Port Ltd is now about half completed.

Marine operations manager Captain Robert Mitchell said the contract carried out by the Port of Otago suction dredge New Era would take about another two to three weeks.

He was confident the depth of the harbour channel was now down to 10 metres. The final target is 10.2 metres at chart datum.

The contract, costing about $500,000, involves the dredging of the harbour channel and swinging basin. It provides for the removal of 57,000 cubic metres. Work began in early August.