TasPorts to complete major maintenance dredging at Port of Devonport

TasPorts has appointed Dutch Dredging Australia Pty Ltd to deliver a major maintenance dredging campaign at the Port of Devonport, supporting safe navigation and efficient operations at one of Tasmania’s most important freight hubs.

Scheduled to begin in March 2026, the dredging campaign will run for approximately 14 weeks and will see the removal and relocation of up to 470,000 cubic metres of sediment from port waters.

TasPorts Group Executive Major Projects, Assets and Technical Services, Michel de Vos said regular dredging and seabed levelling was an essential part of TasPorts’ ongoing maintenance program, securing Tasmania’s connection with mainland Australia and international markets.

“Sediment naturally accumulates in the Mersey River and operational port waters as a result of tidal movements and river flows,” Mr de Vos said.

“Routine dredging ensures the navigational channels and berths remain at their declared depths, providing a safe navigational passage for Tasmania’s major freight and tourism operators.”

In FY2025, the Port of Devonport saw 938 vessels and more than four million tonnes of freight move through its waters, including key commodities such as fuel, industrial bulk and general cargo.

The dredging campaign will be carried out under TasPorts’ new 10-year Sea Dumping permit, issued by the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). 

The permit allows for the safe relocation of dredged material to an offshore disposal site located approximately 15 kilometres offshore.

Mr de Vos said the approval of TasPorts’ dredging permit was underpinned by extensive environmental assessments, detailed planning and meaningful engagement with stakeholders, including an independent Technical Advisory Consultative Committee (TACC).

As part of the campaign, TasPorts will run a 24/7 water quality monitoring program, supported by six monitoring buoys which were deployed around the port last year.

TACC Independent Chair Ian Cartwright said the Committee played a vital role in fostering open and transparent dialogue between TasPorts and the community.

“Since 2022, the Committee has worked closely with TasPorts to ensure the planned Devonport dredging program considers stakeholder concerns, feedback and priorities. This has included input into the selection of the offshore disposal site and the campaign’s water quality monitoring” Mr Cartwright said.

“TasPorts has worked closely with the TACC to develop a best-practice Adaptive Monitoring and Management Plan, which includes additional water quality monitoring buoys. 

“This consultative approach has been key to understanding and taking account of community interests while meeting the operational needs of one of Tasmania’s most important ports.”

A rolling average of live water quality data will be made publicly available on the TasPorts website before the campaign commences in March.