The Mauritanian Port of Nouadhibou will soon be able to welcome vessels with a capacity of up to 250,000 tons, following works on the deepening and widening dredging of the 25-km long entrance channel this month. The project is supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
To help with the project, one of Jan De Nul’s largest Cutter Suction Dredgers Zheng He arrived at the site in the early days of October. Another Jan De Nul dredger will assist the project, the Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger Leiv Eiriksson which will arrive in the second half of October.
Both dredgers will evacuate about 21.6 million m³ of sediments and transport them to a dedicated offshore location. The turning circle of the port will be deepened to -20.3 m.
The Mauritanian Port, located on the West Coast of Mauritania is a crucial iron ore export facility.
In order to conduct the project in 12 months both dredgers will work simultaneously; the Zheng He will pre-cut the sandstone after which the Leiv Eiriksson will dredge the sediments and dispose them offshore.
See also