Future Project

Line spacing of 200m across approx. 170–200 sq km, in water depth ranging from 7 to 15m Chart Datum.

50 km single beam line survey in water depth from 6 to 12m Chart Datum, including sub-bottom profiling along the navigation channel.

Rotary core boreholes to 50m below seabed with SPT and core sampling. 15 marine boreholes in water depth between 0 and 10m Chart Datum.

Vibracore drilling along the navigation channel line, reaching -13m CD into the seabed, to be commissioned on completion of the proposed navigation channel route and inform the dredging contract. 25 vibracores at each 2,000m chainage in water depth from 6 to 12m Chart Datum, plus a further 25 vibracores (locations to be confirmed) in water depth from 6 to 13m Chart Datum.

2 ADCP units deployed near-bed near the breakwater (seaward side) and the terminal, in water depth from 5 to 12m Chart Datum. Measurements at 70-second intervals every hour for 6 weeks, delivering wave data, current speed and direction, and water level every half hour.

4 OBS instruments across two locations, in water depth from 5 to 12m Chart Datum — one at mid-depth and one at 1m above seabed at each location. Measurements taken over 3–6 week cycles; instruments recovered, cleaned of marine fouling, and redeployed for a further 3 weeks. Settings calibrated to avoid saturation from high turbidity while maintaining a usable signal in low-turbidity conditions.

4 sand traps at the same elevations as the OBS units (mid-depth and 1m above seabed, at each of the 2 locations), in water depth from 5 to 12m Chart Datum, for collection of settling suspended sediment. Deployed over 3-week cycles — material washed out, bagged, and analysed for weight and grain size distribution — then redeployed for a further 3 weeks.

40–50 grab samples in water depth from 5 to 12m Chart Datum, taken at each of the water sampling, OBS, and sand trap stations, repeated after 6 weeks (16 samples total), plus additional samples at regular intervals along the navigation channel (34 samples total). Samples sieved to British/European/American standards for detailed grain size distribution, percentage of fine material (below 63 microns), and organic content (percentage/mass).

8 water column profiling sampling exercises in water depth from 5 to 12m Chart Datum.

10 CPTu tests in water depth up to 3m Chart Datum, plus 15 marine CPT boreholes in water depth starting between 0 and 10m Chart Datum.