Dredging work on the Zone 5 Bypass Channel at Port of Port Hedland, conducted with Jan De Nul's mega trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) Vasco da Gama, is underway.
The $50 million project, announced in this year’s State Budget, is set to enhance the safety, efficiency, and resilience of the port, one of the world’s largest bulk export hubs and a critical enabler of iron ore exports that underpin the national economy.
This strategic dredging project will establish a bypass channel, enabling ships to safely navigate around a steeper-edged section of the port’s 42‑kilometre shipping channel, known as Zone 5.
"Some of the largest ships in the world transit the channel, operating within tightly constrained tidal windows and moving in convoy. The bypass channel will complement existing passing lanes and refuge areas, further enhancing the port’s ability to manage maritime risk and maintain safe, continuous operations,” the Government of Western Australia said.
“The project has been developed in close consultation with major port users and reflects an industry-supported investment, informed by detailed technical studies including navigational simulations and environmental and geotechnical investigations.”
Pilbara Ports awarded this dredging contract to Jan De Nul Australia in June this year.