Fremantle Ports to continue Inner Harbour maintenance dredging

Australia's Fremantle Ports is set to carry out further maintenance dredging in the Inner Harbour, with operations scheduled to begin around June 23, 2025, and last for approximately five days. This work follows the removal of 55,000 cubic meters of sediment in 2024.

The upcoming project aims to remove an additional 10,000 cubic meters of sediment. This is part of a larger, five-year plan to remove a total of 80,000 cubic meters of sediment. Fremantle Ports also plans to remove an extra 5,000 cubic meters annually on three occasions between 2026 and 2029.

Fremantle Ports stated that maintenance dredging is essential to clear sediments that have accumulated in the Inner Harbour from the Swan River estuary. This process ensures safe access for ships entering the Inner Harbour and maintains sufficient depth at berths for larger container vessels. The dredging footprint will remain within the area used for the 2010 capital dredging project, the authority added.

Fremantle Ports also noted that dredged material will be disposed of at the Gage Roads offshore disposal site utilised in the aforementioned 2010 dredging project.

Dredging in 2025 is scheduled for winter to reduce impacts on seagrass, as this period corresponds with their dormancy due to reduced sunlight.

Modelling predicted that any plumes will be confined to upstream areas and the mouth of the Swan River during operations, with water turbidity levels expected to be similar to those seen during typical winter rainfall events, the authority said.