Decarbonising marine transport infrastructure projects through beneficial reuse of dredging spoil and sediment as alternatives to disposal at sea.

UK National Clean Maritime Research Hub, Wave 3 – Flexible Funding award.
Environmental impact of dredging and sediment management

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited are initiating a £100M upgrade of Port Ellen Terminal, part of an £800-900M pipeline of similar harbour upgrades to match increasing vessel sizes in the CalMac Large and Small Vessel Replacement Programmes serving the Clyde and West Coast Islands. Disposal to sea is the go-to option for both capital and maintenance dredging. Beneficial use options could reduce waste disposal at sea, avoid transport to disposal sites or primary aggregate imports and reduce biogenic carbon emissions from dredgings. This project will scope alternatives to inform planning stage decisions and benchmarking ahead of future similar developments.