Dredging of Harbours and Rivers: Review of Practices and Associated Environmental Impacts.

Abstract

Dredging of harbors and rivers is essential for waterway accessibility and infrastructure enhancement. This review explores key aspects of dredging, including types, applications, environmental concerns, mitigation strategies, and insightful case studies. This paper highlights the importance of dredging in improving water transport and related sectors. It covers diverse dredging types and applications such as Maintenance dredging, Capital dredging, Environmental dredging and Land Reclamation showcasing their adaptability to different project needs. It examines environmental issues linked to dredging and proposes effective mitigation methods. These measures address sediment disturbance, habitat disruption, and water quality degradation. There were two case histories which are The panama Canal Expansion and The Rhine river dredging in Europe illustrating practical dredging applications. These cases offer insights into both successful practices and challenges encountered during project execution. This, summarizes key findings and provides sustainable dredging recommendations. These include enhanced planning, monitoring, and the integration of eco-friendly technologies.