Maintenance Dredging, Port of Leer, Germany

Northern part of industrial harbour Client: Stadtwerke Leer GmbH Construction Costs: approx. 5 mill.€ Service: Planning, design, tendering and construction supervision Period: June 2002 - March 2004

Leer is a small town in northern Lower Saxony/Germany. The Port of Leer is owned by the municipality and accommodates about 20 port related entities. The port is of importance for the region.

2 long harbour basins (commercial and industrial basin) are located close to the city. The fairway to the port is via the Ems river and its affluent Leda to the port gates. During lockage fluid mud is transported into the harbour basins. To allow continuous port operation maintenance dredging is required.

In the present project a nautical water depth of 6 m shall be provided in the industrial basin over its entire length of 1,300 m. A 10 ha large disposal area is provided closely to accommodate the estimated 320,000 m³ unspoiled dredge material. In addition about 1,400 m³ of highly contaminated material (PAK) has to be disposed.

A comprehensive environmental impact assessment was part of the planning process covering the water body, the disposal site and various other impacts of the dredging works.

The definition of the soil level from echo soundings was an important issue during planning. The definition has to be unambiguous as being important for payments.

Sellhorn was responsible for the planning of the works and the dredge disposal and coordinated the EIA procedures. Sellhorn also provides site supervision of the works.