The application of a downscaled economic model for sediment management projects in Ireland and The Netherlands

The management of dredged sediment is a challenge for Ports and is the focus of the EU NWE Interreg SURICATES Project which investigates aspects of sediment management. This paper focuses on a regionally downscaled economic model to assess impacts of sediment management options (including disposal, treatment and reuse) for dredged sediments. The model analyses the economic benefits associated with sediment use and specifically Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and jobs created and has been applied to sediment management projects across the SURICATES Partner Countries (Ireland, Scotland, France and the Netherlands) and the United Kingdom (excluding Scotland). The model facilitates regional analysis of effects of sediment management projects on GDP and job creation. Methods for estimating economic induced impacts are based on industry specific Type I & Type II economic multipliers and coefficients, derived for the EU Interreg NWE SURICATES partner countries using Symmetric Input-Output Tables and application of the open Leontief model based on available economic data for the identified countries. The model has been validated against completed sediment management projects. The model has been applied to sediment projects in Ireland (Maintenance dredging – Port of Fenit) and in the Netherlands (Dredged sediment reallocation – Port of Rotterdam) and estimates the direct contribution to GDP and direct jobs created and indirect and induced economic project impacts. The model provides valuable results into the benefits of sediment management projects. More generally it allows impact analysis for economic aspects of sediment projects with potential to inform stakeholders.