Port of Kalama to commence annual maintenance dredging in September

The Port of Kalama in Washington will begin its annual month-long maintenance dredging at the TEMCO grain elevator berth on Sunday, September 1.

The port’s board of commissioners awarded the ongoing 2019 maintenance dredging contract to Ross Island Sand and Gravel for US$687,225, including tax.

The project will remove a projected 42,000 cubic metres of material to depths between 13 and 14 metres.

The maintenance dredging programme will ensure the draught necessary to keep cargo ships sailing smoothly at the terminal. The dredging procedure removes sand in front of the TEMCO terminal and uses the clean materials to continue beach nourishment on the Port of Kalama riverfront or may be placed on the upland South Port material site.

The port is only permitted to provide these maintenance services at this time of year, which is during the authorised in-water work window.