Gothenburg Testing Dredge Spoils for New Terminal

The Port of Gothenburg is planning to make use of contaminated clay from the seabed to build a new freight terminal.

According to the port, the method is currently being tested as part of large-scale field trials using dredging spoils from the Göta Älv river. The first barges loaded with spoils arrived yesterday.

The new terminal – covering 220,000 square meters – will be built at the outer port area at Hisingen using clay spoils from the river, taken up as part of routine dredging to maintain the river depth.

Dredging spoils in the river are contaminated by a variety of substances, including TBT, tributyltin, an environmental toxin that can disrupt hormone levels. To ensure the spoils can be enclosed safely without seeping into the surroundings, exhaustive trials are being conducted.

“There is no suitable landfill site for contaminated spoil volumes of this size. This is a good way of using the spoils and at the same time helping to clean up the river,” explained Eduardo Epifanio, project manager at Gothenburg Port Authority.

Testing a new method

The port reported that the method has already been tested in the laboratory. Large-scale field trials are about to begin using dredging spoils taken from the area around the Göta Älv Bridge.

The field trials include testing two different combinations of materials. The first involves mixing the spoils with cement and slag, and the other involves mixed the spoils with cement, slag and fly ash – a considerably cheaper and eco-friendlier alternative.

“It worked well in the laboratory and now it will be tested on a larger scale. It is important to ensure that no environmental toxins escape into the water and that the strength and durability specifications are met,” said Eduardo Epifanio.

The field trials will continue until Easter after which the results will be evaluated.

This is how it works

Contaminated dredging spoils from the area around the Göta Älv Bridge are transported by barge to Arendal Bay. There the spoils are mixed with different combinations of binding agents (cement, slag and fly ash). The spoils are then pumped into two cells, which are compared with each other.

The spoils are enclosed by a stone embankment and sheeting to prevent the contaminants from seeping into the river. The spoils will then be covered by a superstructure that will be 1.2 m thick.