The Port of Southampton has completed a £40 million dredging project that deepened and widened the approach channel linking international shipping lanes to the port via the Solent and Thorn Channel. With this development, ships with a draught of up to 15.5m will be capable of accessing the Port’s container terminal. The SCT 5 berth, which opened in March, has a 500m-long deep-water quay and is purpose built to cater for the largest ships in the world. Dredging works were part of a larger project to improve capability at the DP World facility.

Under the project, more than 5 million cubic metres of material have been removed and 20% has been used for the construction of a new breakwater in Cowes Harbour, or deposited in an existing licenced aggregate site for future re-use. Vessels involved included the Boskalis dredgers Willem van Oranje (13,917gt/ 2010 built), Causeway (4,320gt/2013 built), Shoreway (5,005gt/2009 built) and the 1,546gt/1978 built Sospan Dau (Cowes breakwater work).