Millionth cubic metre dredged in Maputo

More than a million cubic
metres of silt have been
removed from the approach
channel to the port of Maputo
since work started a month ago.
A total of three dredgers
will be used to deepen the
channel from -11 metres to
accommodate vessels with
a sailing draft of up to 14.2
metres on the tide.
It is estimated that 12
million cubic metres of sand
will be dredged from the
channel during the 10-month
operation, according to Paulo
Mata, executive in charge of
projects at the Maputo Port
Development Company.
Several dredgers and
supporting equipment have
been mobilised for this
operation. The first one, De
Lapérouse, a trailing suction
hopper dredger, is currently
working 24/7 to ensure a fast
and efficient production cycle.
A bigger suction hopper
dredger, HAM 310, arrived on
June 24, and the largest cutter
suction dredger in the world is
expected to arrive in July.
CAPTION
The De Lapérouse in the port of Maputo.