Boskalis Westminster has been awarded a contract from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation on behalf of the Ministry of Defence for the capital dredging of the approach channel to the port of Portsmouth in the UK.

The contract has a value of approximately £30 million and the activities are due to commence in the second half of 2015.

The dredging activities are related to the deepening and widening of the 4-5 mile long approach channel. A total volume of approximately three million cubic metres of hard clay, sand and gravel will be removed over an eight month period.

Boskalis will use medium-sized trailing suction hopper dredgers and backhoe dredgers on the project and also apply customised working methods and continuous monitoring in order to meet the stringent environmental requirements.

Founded in 1933, Boskalis Westminster is one of the most experienced dredging and marine contracting companies in the UK.  The firm has the capability to undertake any type of dredging and marine construction work including coastal, seabed protection, immersed tube tunnel construction, offshore services, rock and breakwater construction, marine drilling and blasting and pipeline installation.