Dingle dredging to start next week

A dredging project due to start in Dingle harbour next week will open the pier to ships of up to 110m in length and create an opportunity for further development in the local fish processing and tourism industries.

The navigation channel from the pier to the turn in the channel at Burnham is to be dredged to a depth of -1.3m (basically 1.3m lower than the lowest low tide level), and widened by 20m to a total width of 60m. As part of the project the 21 pontoon berths are to be added to the marina in the eastern basin to extend its use by commercial boats.

The first part of the project will involve the removal of contaminated sediment, which will be stored in temporary silos that have been built on the Cooleen side of the pier. The sediment will be ‘de-watered’ before being shipped, possibly as far away as Mayo, for safe disposal.

In the second stage of the dredging, rock will be taken out. Because the rock isn’t contaminated by paint, anti-foul, oils or other materials, this can be disposed of on land and it is hoped a site close to Dingle will be found for this. Sand, which will make up the greater part of the material dredged from the channel, is to be dumped at sea and a licence for this is currently pending.

The dredging will include the creation of a 127m turning circle at the head of the pier, which will allow for vessels of up to 110m to manoeuvre with the aid of a tug.

The principal contractor for the dredging and the installation of piling for the marina extension is L & M Keating building civil and marine engineering contractors of Kilrush, who expect to have the entire €7m - €8m project finished next February and in operation by St Patrick’s Day.

The deepened channel will mean that, while Dingle pier will still be tidal, it won’t be bound by the tide and ships of up to 110m in length will be able to berth at the pier, giving the port will the potential to attract larger passenger and cargo vessels.

From a tourism point of view this could mean regular visits by cruisers such as the National Geographic Explorer, which has made occasional visits to Dingle in recent years, but only when tides were favourable. The pier will also be able to handle refrigerated cargo ships, which would allow fish processors to greatly reduce their export costs, giving an opportunity to expand fish processing in West Kerry.