Dredging in Trinidad and Tobago. Environmental Considerations For Ports

Dredging in Trinidad and Tobago.
Environmental Considerations for Ports
Dredging in Trinidad and Tobago.

Environmental Considerations for
Ports
Judson Farray
Published by Spree Spirit 2014 Trinidad & Tobago ! 1

Dredging in Trinidad and Tobago. Environmental Considerations for Ports
Dredging(in(Trinidad(and(Tobago:(
Environmental(Considera5ons(for(Ports
By#Judson#Farray
Foreword#by:#Michele#de#Verteuil

©"2014"Spree"Spirit,"some"rights"reserved
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ISBN"978U976U95675U1U1""|"Published"in"Trinidad"and"Tobago"""|"First"EdiFon
Figure"1:"A"clamshell"dredger"at"work

Acknowledgements
I"would"like"to"humbly"thank"the"late"Neil"Charles,"Marcia"Gomez,"Cyril"Collier,"Llewellyn"McIntosh,"George"
Alexis,"the"late"Garth"Marcelle,"Leonard"Chan"Chow"and,"as"always,"my"enFre"family"for"supporFng"me,"
giving"me"opportuniFes,"inspiring"me,"encouraging"me"and"indulging"me.

Preface
This" publicaFon" goes" into" slightly" more" technical" detail" than" the" more" rounded" ‘Guidelines" for"
Maintenance"Dredging" in"Trinidad"and"Tobago’."The"intenFon"of"this"publicaFon"is"to"acquaint"novice"port"
pracFFoners"with"some"of"the"environmental"terminology"used"and"to"describe"the"background,"processes"
and" challenges" of" performing" maintenance" dredging" by" a" high" profile," corporately" responsible" port"
operator"in"a"developing"country."The"reality"is"that,"the"Fme"taken"to"aHain"a"CerFficate"of"Environmental"
Clearance"is "unpredictable."It"has"become"necessary"for"port"pracFFoners"to"understand"the"sediment"and"
water" analysis " and" hydrographic" survey" reports" and," in" some" cases," to" do" the" research" to" assess " the"
environmental"impact"of"dredging"themselves"and"present"the"assessment"to"the"various,"relevant"internal"
and"external"authoriFes."
In"order"to" deal"with" the"specifics"of" acquiring"that"ability,"this"publicaFon" will"introduce,"as"background"
material," general" informaFon" about" Trinidad" and" Tobago" and" some" experiences"from" the"port" of" Point"
ForFn" specifically." The" issues" of" transparency," bureaucracy," environmentalism," some" of" the" technical"
aspects" of" dredging," dredging" equipment," disposal," the" composiFon" of" the" seabed" and" some" exisFng"
convenFons"on"environmental"protecFon"are"also"introduced.
While"some"technical"and"scienFfic"informaFon"is"included,"the"real"context"of"this"document"is"to"describe"
the"process"of"obtaining"permission"to"do"dredging"and"the"concerns"that"are"presented"and"the"assurances"
that"must"be"given"to"obtain"permission.
It"is"hoped"that"this"document" will"illustrate"that"a"balance"needs"to" be" struck" to" saFsfy" all"the" relevant"
needs." The" need" for" commerce" to" thrive"in" the"modern" world," with" the" need" to" preserve" species" and"
acFviFes"for"present"and"future"generaFons"and"the"need"to"live"in"harmony"and"have"respect"for"ourselves"
and"our"surroundings.
Judson"Farray
21st"February"2014

Foreword
Every"Fme"I"start" talking" about"an"environmental"issue,"I" get"the"same"response"from"Judson;"“everyone"
wants "to"have"airUcondiFoning”,"“everyone"wants"to" charge"their"iPod”."It’s"a"metaphor"for"our"need" for"
energy,"specifically"electricity"in"our"everyday"lives."Hence"(to"many"environmentalists’"dismay),"the"fastest"
way"to"do"this"(at"the"moment)"is"to"burn"fossil"fuels."To"get"fuel"to"the"power"plant"we"need"to"transport"it,"
in"this"case"via"the"sea,"and"to"maintain"transportaFon" efficiency" we"must"dredge"navigaFonal"channels."
The"quesFon"posed"is;"“how"do"we"carry" out"dredging"acFviFes"in"a"way"that"causes "minimal"damage"to"
the"surrounding"environment?”."The"term"“environment”"encompasses"not"only"the"tradiFonal"definiFon"
of"the"natural"habitat"and"associated"organisms,"but"also"neighbouring"industrial"faciliFes,"ports,"residenFal"
areas,"fishermen"and"other"marine"traffic.
In"this"report,"Farray"gives "an"overview"of" the"dredging" process," the" equipment"needed," the"regulaFons"
that"govern"it"and"the"possible"impacts."This"is"illustrated"though"a"case"study"of"a"dredging"project"in"a"port"
in"Point"ForFn,"Trinidad."He"clearly"idenFfies "the"issues,"both"theoreFcal"and"those"actually"encountered,"
and"how"these"gaps "can"be"closed."While"there"are"procedures"to"follow,"the"case"study"shows"that"there"
are"sFll"areas"of" uncertainty"when" it" comes"to"planning" and"execuFng" projects." There"is"a"great"need"to"
document"these"issues."I"hope"that"these"points "can"be"used"to"influence"future"decision"making"to"aid"in"
the" streamlining" of" the" whole" process;" from" planning," applying" for" the" CEC," the" physical" process,"
monitoring" and" any" followUup" work."CommunicaFon" is" paramount" so" that" efforts"are"not" duplicated" as"
many"of"the"same"key"players "share"these"operaFons."It"must"also"be"noted"that"these"acFviFes "do"not"take"
place"in" a"vacuum." The"same"neighbours"that"one"aHempts"to"avoid" impacFng" also"carry" out" their" own"
operaFons."CumulaFve"effects"must"be"considered," especially" in"the"heavy" industrial"areas"of" the"Gulf"of"
Paria."
It" is" important" to" note" that" this" report" does" not" focus" on" the" suitability" of" the" site" as "it" is" an" already"
established"port."However,"for"areas"with"first"Fme"dredging" this "must"be"taken"into"account."Documents"
that" should" be" referenced" include" the" EMA’s " Hydrodynamic" Guidebook" which" outlines" the" need" for"
hydrographic"surveys"as"well"as "parFcular"habitats "and"sensiFve"areas."TradeUoffs"between"the"acFvity"and"
conservaFon" must" be" given" consideraFon." While" this" report" only" focuses" on" an" industrial" dredging"
operaFon,"the"lessons"learnt"can"be"applied"for"other"dredging"projects."For"example;"an"important"issue"in"
the" country" is" the" improvement" of" the" transportaFon" system." Use" of" the" water" taxis" and" ferries" is"
becoming" increasingly"popular" with"the"traveling" public"who" need" to" commute" to" between"the" different"
ends"of" the"country."Issues"have" been"brought"forward" with" the" siFng" of" these"terminals," including" the"
requirement"for" dredging" of" new" channels." There"is"need"for" a"detailed" costUbenefit"analysis"of" locaFon,"
infrastructure"and"impacts"of"the"terminals."
Environmentalists"get"a "lot"of" “heat”"for"tending"to"focus"solely"on"the"environmental"side"of"an"issue,"and"
not"considering" other" benefits" that"may" outweigh" the"need" to" protect" the" natural" environment."It" is"a"
noFceable" flaw"in"human"nature;" dividing" an" issue"into"black"and" white"and"not"taking" into"account" the"

posiFves"of"both"sides."I"hope"that"as"we"move"forward"in"developing"our"naFon"that"we"look"for"a"holisFc"
approach" and" focus" on" sustainable" development." Using" this" concept" we" not" only" aim" to" beHer" our"
economy" and" infrastructure," but" at" the" same" Fme" ensure" that" there" are" resources" len" for" future"
generaFons.
The"twentyUfirst"century"has"brought"an"increased"focus"on"environmentalism;"part"of"this"is"the"promoFon"
of" the" concept" of" sustainable" development." To" many" this" is" a"pipe" dream." To" them,"I"say" that" doesn’t"
maHer."Even"if"we"were"to"fall"short;"the"strides"made"in"our"aHempt"would"be"far"beHer"than"if"we"had"not"
tried"at"all."This"is"the"issue"addressed"in"this"report;"how"to" carry"out"industrial"dredging"works,"while"at"
the"same"Fme"looking"at"environmental"impacts"of"dredging."It"highlights"the"issues"that"were"faced"when"
trying"to"set"up"a"project"and"how"to"reconcile"policy,"acFon"and"the"soluFons.
Michele"de"Verteuil
26th"February"2014"

Table(of(Contents
1:(HISTORY(OF(ENVIRONMENTAL(CONCERNS(RELATED(TO(THE(SEA( 1
INTRODUCTION ( 1
THE(GULF(OF(PARIA’S(COASTAL(PROFILE( 2
2:(THE(BACKGROUND(OF(THE(MAINTENANCE(DREDGING(PROJECT( 3
THE(NEED(FOR(THE(DREDGING( 3
A(CASE(STUDY( 3
PREVIOUS(CECS ( 4
THE(PORT(PRACTITIONER’S(DREDGING(OPTIONS( 4
GEOLOGICAL+FACTORS+OF+THE+DREDGE+AND+DUMP+SITES" 4
AVAILABILITY+OF+CONTRACTORS’+EQUIPMENT" 5
COMPARATIVE+COSTS+OF+VARIOUS+OPTIONS." 5
ASSEMBLING+A+DREDGING+PLAN" 5
DESCRIPTION(OF(THE(PREFERRED(OPTION ( 6
3:(ENVIRONMENTAL(ETHOS( 8
INTRODUCTION ( 8
ENVIRONMENTALISM(IN(CULTURES( 9
4:(MARINE(AND(COASTAL(ECOLOGY( 10
INTRODUCTION ( 10
DESCRIPTION(OF(THE(MARINE(ENVIRONMENT( 11
CHANGES+IN+THE+MARINE+ENVIRONMENT" 12
5:(MARINE(ENVIRONMENTAL(COMPONENTS( 13
INTERTIDAL(ZONE( 13
BENTHIC(ZONE( 13
HABITATS( 13
ECOLOGICAL(RECEPTORS(AND(VALUES( 14
FISHERIES( 14
MARINE(MAMMALS( 14
HYDRODYNAMICS(AND(THE(SEDIMENTARY(REGIME( 15
WATER(COLUMN ( 15
TURBIDITY ( 15

6:(ENVIRONMENTAL(IMPACT(OF(A(DREDGING(OPERATION( 17
CORPORATE(RESPONSIBILITY ( 17
ENVIRONMENTAL(IMPACT(OF(DREDGING(ACTIVITY( 17
DREDGED(SPOIL( 18
DREDGED(SPOIL(CHARACTERISTICS( 19
ASSESSING+POTENTIAL+IMPACT+ON+DISPOSAL+SITES" 19
DISPOSAL(SITE(SELECTION( 20
DISPOSAL+SITE+CHARACTERISTICS" 21
7:(DREDGING(AND(DISPOSAL(SITE(SAMPLING(AND(ANALYSIS( 22
SIDE(SCAN(SONAR ( 22
VIDEO(‘SPLASHCAM’(DROPS( 23
BENTHIC(GRAB(SURVEY( 24
PHYSICAL(IMPACT(OF(DREDGED(SPOIL(DISPOSAL( 24
MANAGING+THE+PHYSICAL+EFFECTS+OF+DREDGED+SPOIL+DISPOSAL " 25
DISPOSAL+SITE+DISPERSAL+CHARACTERISTICS" 26
IMPACT(HYPOTHESIS( 26
RECOMMENDATIONS(FOR(MONITORING(THE(DISPOSAL(SITE( 27
8:(CERTIFICATE(OF(ENVIRONMENTAL(CLEARANCE( 28
MAINTENANCE(DREDGING(SEDIMENT(RETENTION ( 28
HYDROCARBON]CONTAMINATED(RUN]OFF( 30
NOISE(AND(VIBRATION( 31
SEWAGE( 31
WASTE(MATRIX ( 32
9:(CONCLUSIONS( 36
APPENDICES( 37
A.1(TYPES(OF(DREDGING ( 37
A.1.1+CAPITAL+DREDGING " 37
A.1.2+PREPARATORY+DREDGING" 37
A.1.3+MAINTENANCE+DREDGING" 37
A.1.4+LAND+RECLAMATION" 37
A.1.5+BEACH+NOURISHMENT" 37
A.1.6+HARVESTING+MATERIALS" 37
A.1.7+SEABED+MINING" 37

A.1.8+CONSTRUCTION+MATERIALS" 38
A.1.9+ANTIUEUTROPHICATION" 38
A.1.10+CONTAMINANT+REMEDIATION " 38
A.1.11+REMOVING+TRASH+AND+DEBRIS" 38
A.2(TYPES(OF(DREDGING(VESSELS( 38
A.2.1+GRAB+DREDGER " 38
A.2.2+TRAILING+SUCTION+HOPPER+DREDGER" 38
A.2.3+SUCTION+DREDGER " 39
A.2.4+CUTTER+SUCTION+DREDGER " 39
A.2.5+AUGER+SUCTION" 39
A.2.6+JET+LIFT" 39
A.2.7+AIR+LIFT" 39
A.2.8+BUCKET+DREDGING " 39
A.2.9+BACKHOE/DIPPER " 40
A.2.10+WATER+INJECTION" 40
A.2.11+PNEUMATIC" 40
A.2.12+BED+LEVELER " 40
A.2.13+AMPHIBIOUS" 40
A.2.14+SUBMERSIBLE" 40
READING(LIST( 41

1:(History(of(environmental(concerns(related(to(the(sea
Introduc5on
As" shipyards"started" launching" ‘larger’" oil" tankers"post" World"War" II,"coastal" naFons"became"concerned"

with"protecFng"the"marine"environment."These"concerns"led"to"OILPOL"being"adopted"in"1958."OILPOL"was"
designed" to" prevent" marine" polluFon" caused" by" rouFne" tanker" operaFons," including" tank" cleaning" and"
discharges"of"oily"ballast"water."However,"major"spills"of"cargo"oil"resulFng"from"grounding"accidents"were"
beyond" its" scope." Meanwhile," tankers" have" been" built" larger," and" the" transportaFon" needs" of" harmful"
substances"other"than"oil"have"increased."Then"IMCO,"the"predecessor"of" IMO"worked"on"the"InternaFonal"
ConvenFon"for"the"PrevenFon"of"PolluFon"from"Ships,"finally"adopted"in"1978"as"MARPOL."This"ConvenFon"
includes "not" only" heavy" oil," which"was"covered"by" OILPOL," but"also" all"other" kinds"of" oil,"harmful" liquid"
substances,"and"sewage"water,"so"as"to"prevent"marine"polluFon"in"a"wider"sense.
The"need"for"the"prevenFon"of"contaminaFon"is "well"covered"in"history,"going" back"to"lepers"in"the"bible"
through"Thyphoid"Mary"and"the"anthrax"laden"anermath"of"9/11"up"to"present"day."In"Europe,"convenFons"
on"the"prevenFon"of"contaminaFon"have"been"held"since"the"1850s."
The" focus" has" historically" been" on" the"diseases" that" affect" humans" and" animals." The" inclusion" of" plant"
quaranFne"divisions"in"State"agencies"came"in"the"early"1900s."
Around"1903"there"was"a"recorded"mass"occurrence"of"a "species"of"Asian"algae"in"the"North"Sea."It"was"not"
unFl"the"1970s "that"scienFsts"started"to"recognise"the"phenomenon"and"effects"of"AquaFc"Invasive"Species."
Through"the"1990s,"the"IMO"adopted"various"guidelines"and"resoluFons "on"the"subject"which"culminated"in"
the" InternaFonal" ConvenFon" for" the" Control" and"Management"of" Ships’"Ballast" Water" and" Sediments"in"
2004.
In"1972"the"UN"Conference"on"the"Human"Environment"in"Sweden"created"the"United"NaFons"Environment"
Programme." Its " task" was " to" oversee" all" maHers" dealing" with" the" environment" addressed" by" the"
UN." Among"its"responsibiliFes"and"successes"is"the"Regional"Seas "Programme." The" Programme"
has"thirteen"agreements"covering"over"140"countries."The"two"most"successful"of"the"thirteen"convenFons"
are"the"Barcelona"ConvenFon,"dealing" with"the"Mediterranean"Sea"and"the"Cartagena"ConvenFon,"dealing"
with"the"Caribbean." Cartagena"along" with"its "three"protocols," dealing" with"oil"spills," protected"areas,"and"
landUbased" polluFon," respecFvely," is" one" of" the" most" comprehensive" Regional" Seas" Programmes." In"
addiFon,"in"2002,"Cartagena"was"also"coordinated"with"the"Intergovernmental"Oceanographic"Commission"
for"the"Caribbean"of"UNESCO"by"way"of"a"Memorandum"of"CooperaFon."Cartagena" is" not" a" standalone"
agreement" or" designed" to" supersede" existent" agreements." Partly," it" is" designed" to" supplement" other"
mulFlateral" treaFes" in" place" such" as" MARPOL" 73/78"and" the" ConvenFon" on" Biological" Diversity" and" to"
complement"UNCLOS."
Despite"all"of" the"ConvenFons"to"which"country"might"be"a "signatory,"someFmes"the"reality"of" pusng" the"
provisions" into" acFon" can" be" hampered" by" lack" of" experience," lack" of" training," lack" of" interest" and"
bureaucracy.

The"relaFvely"large"number"of" agencies"that"are"involved"in"obtaining"permission"to"dredge"in"Trinidad"and"
Tobago" and" the"scarcity" of" commercial"marine"experFse"in" many" of" those"agencies" mean" that"the"port"
pracFFoner"has"to"become"the"subject"maHer"expert.
The"port" pracFFoner" has"to"be"able"to" answer" any"quesFons"by"the"people"who"control"the"port’s"purse"
strings," the" Environmental" Management" Authority" and" the" various" government" authoriFes." The" port"
pracFFoner" will" also" be" expected" to" evaluate" and" recommend" service" providers" from" the" available"
dredging" and" hydrographical" surveying" services" and" equipment" and" advise" the" port’s" procurement"
department"on"negoFaFons"with"the"suppliers.
The(Gulf(of(Paria’s(coastal(profile
Trinidad" and" Tobago" conforms"with" the"world’s"usage" of" coastal" zones"on" one"coast."Coastal"zones"are"

dynamic"areas"of" natural"change"and" of"increasing"human"use."They"occupy" less"than"15%"of" the"earth's"
land"surface;" yet"accommodate"more"than" 50%" of" the"world" populaFon" (it" is" esFmated" that" 3.1" billion"
people"live"within"200"kilometres"from"the"sea)."With"threeUquarters"of" the"world"populaFon"expected"to"
reside"in"the"coastal"zone"by" 2025,"human" acFviFes"originaFng" from"this"small"land"area"will"impose"an"
inordinate" amount" of" pressures"on" the"global" system." Coastal" zones" contain" rich" resources" to" produce"
goods"and"services"and"are"home"to"most"commercial"and"industrial"acFviFes.""
In"Trinidad"and"Tobago,"more"than"half"of"the"populaFon"now"lives"along"the"west"coast"of"the"larger"island"
and"coastal"zone"resources"produce"much"of"the"naFon’s"economic"wealth."Eight"of"the"country’s"eleven"
ports"are"located"on"the"west"coast."The"natural"gas,"extracted"off"the"north"and"east"coasts,"is"transferred"
by"pipeline"to"faciliFes"on"the"centralUwest"and"southUwest"coasts"for"processing"and"exportaFon.""
In"addiFon,"the"fishing,"shipping"and"tourism"industries"all"compete"for"vital"space"along"the"coastline"that"
contains"some"of"fragile"and"valuable"natural"habitats."SoluFons"for"both"industrial"and"protected"zones"on"
this"short"coast"is"difficult"but"doable."
Trinidad"and"Tobago"is"located"at"the"southern"end"of"the"eastern"Caribbean"island"chain"on"the"conFnental"
shelf" off" northeast" South" America," some" 8" miles "east" of" Venezuela," the" islands" lie" downstream" of" the"
ouvlow"of" 17" South"American" rivers,"including" the"Amazon" and"Orinoco,"and"at"the"confluence"of" major"
ocean" currents " such" as" the" North" Equatorial" current." This" ouvlow" has" led" to" highly" diverse" marine"
environment.

2:(The(background(of(the(maintenance(dredging(project((
The(need(for(the(dredging
When" the" dredging" is" to" return" the" navigaFonal" channel" to" its" design" dimensions," it" is" maintenance"
dredging."It"is"important"to"note"immediately"that"the"previous"depth"and"width"being"applied"for"must"be"
proved" through" documentaFon." In" these" cases," no" Environmental" Impact" Assessment" (EIA)" is" normally"
required"and" if" a"CerFficate"of" Environmental"Clearance"(CEC)" has"been" previously"and" recently" granted,"
reapplicaFon"for"a"CEC"may"not"be"required"but"in"all"cases"the"EMA"must"be"advised"of"the"port’s"desire,"
intenFon"and"reason"for"dredging.
If" the" dredging" is"to"facilitate"an" expansion"of" the"navigaFon" of" the"navigaFonal" channel" and"or" turning"
basin,"an"EIA" will"likely" be"required." Guidance"on"EIA" is "available"on" the" EMA’s"website"and" engaging" a"
consultant"is"recommended"prior"to"applicaFon.
A(Case(Study
Figure"2:"LNG"Terminal"at"Point"ForFn"with"second"jeHy"under"construcFon."The"13"metre"deep"navigaFon"
channel"was"dredged"to"be"600"metres"wide"from"the"original"200"metres"wide"to"accommodate"the"
second"jeHy.
At" the" EMA" library,"the"course"of" the"development" of" the" LNG" terminal"at"Point" ForFn"can" be"charted."
Taking"up"the"story"at"the"capital"dredging" in"2004"which"involved"widening" the"channel"from"200"metres"
wide"to" 600"metres "wide"and" the"turning" basin"to" accommodate"the"construcFon"of" a"second" jeHy" and"
improve"navigaFonal"safety"
In"2009,"the"areas"by" the"berth"parFcularly"by" way"of" the"jeHy" fenders "had" silted"up"and"ships"alongside"
were"exposed"to"the"possibility"of"having"less"than"minimum"under"keel"clearance""if"they"finished"loading"
around" low" water."The"corners"of" the" turning" basin"also" silted" up"and" the"channel"markers"were"moved"
inward"to"compensate."There"had"been"challenges"obtaining"a"CerFficate"of"Environmental"Clearance"due"
to"disputes "over"the"locaFon" of" the"disposal"site." The"port"was"allowed"to"relocate"dredged" spoil"to" the"
deeper"areas"with"the"channel"unFl"the"disposal"site"issue"was"resolved.

Previous(CECs
The"files"of"all"applicaFons"made"to"the"EMA"are"available"to"the"public"at"the"EMA"library"in"Port"of"Spain."
These"are"a "useful"but" limited" source"of" informaFon"about"CEC" applicaFon."While"the" files "are"available"
individually,"there"is"no"database"that"allows"trends"to"be"easily"idenFfied."Some"trends"were"idenFfied"in"
‘Guidelines "for"Maintenance"Dredging"in"Trinidad"and"Tobago’"(GMDTT),"published"by"Spree"Spirit"(2014)."A"
significant"finding"was"that,"in"the"10"years"prior"to"2013,"EMA"asked"applicants "for"‘further"informaFon"in"
70%"of"applicaFons."GMDTT"has"a"summary"of"the"further"informaFon"requested.
The(Port(Prac55oner’s(Dredging(Op5ons
While" port" closure" is " not" an" opFon" and" especially" not" for" ports " through" which" a" country" earns" the"
significant"porFons"of"its"Gross "NaFonal"Product."The"dredging"brings"together"numerous"stakeholders"and"
suppliers," involves" risks" associated" with" heavy" moving" machinery" and" is "also" a"major" expenditure"item."
CommunicaFon," safety" leadership" and" monitoring" to" get" value" for" money" are" the" keys" to" successful"
dredging"operaFons.
Geological)factors)of)the)dredge)and)dump)sites
The"Port"PracFFoner"should"already"be"aware"of"the"geological"nature"of"the"seabed"in"around"the"port"
from"the"Admiralty"charts"for"the"area."This"would"cover"whether"it"was"mud,"sand,"shell,"shingle,"rock"etc."
The"chart"will"also"indicate"whether"any"known"wrecks"or"oil"wells"are"in"the"area"to"be"dredged."The"Port"
PracFFoner"must"also"make"himself"aware"of"the"vegetaFon"and"associated"marine"life"in"the"area"for"
which"he"is"responsible."
AddiFonal"to"that,"the"Port"PracFFoner"must"be"open"to"the"possibility"that"a"significant"amount"of"
‘foreign’"manmade"maHer"and"objects"could"be"present"on"his"seabed."These"foreign"items"may"or"may"not"
have"varying"effects"on"the"environment"but"could"affect"the"dredging"equipment"and"therefore"the"choice"
of"dredging"equipment"hired."""
Figure"3:"Clamshell"dredger"about"to"grab"some"silt"from"the"seabed.

Availability)of)contractors’)equipment
Mobilising"dredging"equipment"from"the"United"States"or"Europe"is"very"expensive."There"aren’t"many"
dredgers"based"in"Trinidad"and"Tobago."The"dredging"equipment"in"the"Caribbean"region"serves"all"of"the"
ports"in"the"region,"including"the"approaches"to"the"Panama"Canal."In"2013,"the"expansion"of"the"Panama"
Canal"is"in"progress"and"uFlising"more"that"normal"amount"of"dredging"equipment."As"a"result"of"the"
scarcity"of"equipment,"it"is"equipment"availability"that"usually"decides"when"the"dredging"will"take"place."
The"Port"PracFFoner"has"to"engage"the"services"of"the"type"of"dredger"or"types"of"dredgers"appropriate"to"
the"nature"of"the"material"or"materials"to"be"dredged,"appropriate"to:"the"iniFal"and"required"depths,"the"
volume"of"material"to"be"dredged"and"appropriate"to"the"physical"layout"of"the"approaches,"channel,"port"
and"berths."
The"Port"PracFFoner"must"be"able"to"assist"the"port"with"the"idenFficaFon"and"selecFon"of"the"source"of"
the"equipment"to"be"used"for"the"safe,"effecFve"and"efficient"implementaFon"of"the"dredging"plan"then"
occurs."
Compara;ve)costs)of)various)op;ons.
The"Port"PracFFoner"has"to"prepare"and"present"the"dredging"plan"budget"in"accordance"with"the"
organisaFon's"requirements."This"preparaFon"can"be"years"before"the"dredging"operaFon."The"Port"
PracFFoner"has"to"engage"the"services"of"a"hydrographic"surveyor"to"establish"the"volume"that"is"to"be"
dredged."This"volume"is"a"key"input"to"the"scope"of"work"for"the"dredging"project,"bearing"in"mind"that"
dredging"contractors"normally"charge"by"volume"but"the"rate"per"cubic"metre"includes"consideraFons"for"
the"duraFon"expected."
The"Port"PracFFoner"has"to"be"aware"of"the"differences"in"the"rates"for"the"hire"of"different"types"of"
dredging"equipment."ConsideraFon"must"also"be"given"to"ancillary"expenses"associated"with"the"dredging."
A"Port"PracFFoner"trying"to"manage"the"expectaFons"of"his"(or"her)"principals"would"factor"in"the"cost"to"
the"port"of"any"shipping"delays"caused"by"the"dredging"and"the"cost"of"interrupFng"the"dredging"for"the"
passage"of"shipping.
The"Port"PracFFoner"has"to"check"the"shipping"projecFons"and"planned"maintenance"schedule"of"the"
busier"berths"to"try"and"make"use"of"‘natural’"windows"in"ship"movements."There"may"be"seasonal"
fluctuaFons"in"the"volume"of"shipping"passing"through"the"port."These"should"also"be"taken"into"account"
when"Fming"the"dredging"operaFon."Trying"to"dredge"around"a"busy"shipping"schedule"will"slow"the"
dredging"and"or"almost"inevitably"cause"delays"to"ships,"possibly"incurring"demurrage"charges.
Assembling)a)Dredging)Plan
The"port"will,"very"likely"operate"a "Control"of"Work"policy"which"will"include"as"a"minimum:"a"documented"
procedure," a"risk" assessment" and" a"permit" to"work" for" the"operaFon." The"documented" risk" assessment"
should" detail" the"hazards"and"miFgaFons"for" every" acFvity" related" to"the"dredging:" from"the"transfer"of"
personnel"to"and"from"the"dredger"to"the"disposal"of"spoil,"which"might"be"occurring"outside"port"limits."In"

order"to"provide"safety"leadership"and"to"provide"accurate"records,"the"port"might"take"the"opFon"to"place"
a"person"or"persons"on"board"the"dredger"as"client"representaFves."It"will"be"the"responsibility"of" the"Port"
PracFFoner" to" idenFfy" and" arrange" any" training" required" for" personnel" involved" in" the" planning" and"
performance"of"the"dredging."
A"dredging"plan’s"parameters"may"include:"legislaFve"requirements,"development"consent"requirements,"
operaFng"hours"limitaFons,"extracFon"volume"limitaFons,"finished"surface"and"subUsurface"level"
requirements,"dredging"and"disposal"machinery"capacity,"catering"for"the"rock,"sand"or"gravel"
characterisFcs,"maximum"dredging"depth,"catering"for"Fdal"or"current"condiFons,"maximum"and"minimum"
slurry"delivery"distances,"this"depends"on"bed"condiFon"and"dredger"type,"reporFng"and"record"
requirements"and"procedures"and"underwater"obstacles.
Armed"with"that"basic"informaFon,"the"Port"PracFFoner"must"interpret"and"clarify"the"parameters"relevant"
to"the"planning"and"implementaFon"of"the"dredging"operaFons."The"Port"PracFFoner"will"issue"and"explain"
the"dredging"plan"to"port"management,"team"members"and"others"involved,"for"the"safe,"effecFve"and"
efficient"implementaFon"of"the"plan."Then"the"wait"for"the"various"permissions"begins.
Descrip5on(of(the(Preferred(Op5on
With"the"contractors"selected,"the"CEC"granted"and"the"dredging"plan"approved,"the"Port"PracFFoner"must"
ensure" that" dredging" operaFons"begin" as"scheduled" and" provide"Fmely" onUgoing" support"and"advice"to"
those"implemenFng"the"dredging"plan."The"Port"PracFFoner"through"his"team"will"ensure"that"the"dredge"
area "is"correctly"marked"out"in"accordance"with"the"dredging"plan."PracFcally"this"will"include"moving" the"
navigaFon"channel"markers"(if" required)" and"removing" current"meter"equipment"(if" required)" out" of" the"
way"of"the"dredger."The"Port"PracFFoner’s"team"must"ensure"that"records"and"reports"are"maintained"and"
issued"in"accordance"with"the"dredging"plan"and"other"relevant"legislaFve"and"organisaFonal"requirements."
The" team" must"also"monitor"the"dredging" plan"performance"against"dredge"operaFons"parameters," the"
budget"and"relevant"legislaFve"and"organisaFonal"requirements."This "monitoring"must"include"checking"on"
over" dredging," the" dredger" is" paid" by" volume" removed" and" will," understandably," not" try" to" limit" the"
revenue" it" earns." The" Port" PracFFoner" must" be" ready" to" resolve" anomalies" in" consultaFon" with" the"
dredging" contractor’s"project"manager"and"other"relevant"stakeholders"(if"required)"and"issue"appropriate"
instrucFons"for"adjustments"to"the"plan"and/or"its"implementaFon"unFl"successful"compleFon."The"seabed"
in"most"of"the"Gulf" of"Paria"is"mud"and"silt."Ports "in"Trinidad"and"Tobago"usually"engage"the"services"of"an"
internaFonally" renowned"dredging" companies"which"would"source"an"appropriate"trailing"sucFon"hopper"
dredger" (TSHD)" out" of" its" fleet," based" on" locaFon" and" commitments." The" TSHD" is" used" for" ‘bulk’" silt""
removal"in"the"channel"and"turning"basin.

Figure"4:"SchemaFc"of"Trailing"SucFon"Hopper"Dredger
The"grab"crane"barge"dredger"is"usually"used"along"the"area"of"berth"lines "and"around"the"perimeter"of"the"
channel"and"turning"basin."
Figure"5:"Clamshell"dredger"‘Elisa’"dropping"a"bucket"load"of"silt"into"the"hopper"barge

3:(Environmental(Ethos
Introduc5on
There" are" scienFfic" and" social" reasons" for" compleFng" Environmental" Impact" Assessments." There" are"
numerous"examples"of" marine"organisms"being"transported"in"ballast"water."San"Francisco"Bay"is"one"the"
most"heavily"‘invaded’"estuaries "in"the"world"with"over" eighty" five"species"having"been" introduced"there"
(source:#Mark#Prado,#Marin#Independent#Journal,#February#2008)."Economic"costs"from"invasive"species"can"
be"separated"into"direct"costs"through"producFon"loss"in"agriculture"and"forestry,"and"management"costs"
of" invasive"species."EsFmated"damage"and" control"cost" of" invasive"species" in" the"U.S." alone" amount" to"
more"than"$138"billion"annually"(source:#U.S.#Fish#and#Wildlife#brochure,#January#2012)."In"addiFon"to"these"
costs," economic"losses"can" occur" through" loss"of" recreaFonal" and" tourism" revenues." Economic"costs"of"
invasions,"when"calculated"as "producFon"loss"and"management"costs,"are"low"because"they"do"not"usually"
consider"environmental"damages."If"monetary"values"could"be"assigned"to"the"exFncFon"of"species,"loss"in"
biodiversity,"and" loss"of" ecosystem"services,"costs"from"impacts"of" invasive"species"would"be"significantly"
higher"(source:#Costanza#et#al.,#1997).
Invasive"species" can" have"impacts" on" recreaFonal" acFviFes"such" as" fishing" and" waterUbased" recreaFon."
They"negaFvely"affect"a"wide"array" of"environmental"aHributes"that"are"important"to"support" recreaFon,"
including" but" not" limited" to" water" quality," plant" and" animal" quanFty," diversity" and" species" abundance"
(source:#hJp://www.fws.gov/home/feature/2012/pdfs/costofinvasivesfactsheet.pdf).
There"can"be"economic"benefits"from"some"‘invasive’"species"and"these"are"usually"underUreported."Asian"
oysters," for"example,"are"beHer"at"filtering"out"water"pollutants"than"North"American"oysters."The"Asian"
oysters"also"grow"faster"and"withstand"disease"beHer"than"the"North"Americans."Biologists"are"considering"
releasing"the"mollusk"in"the"Chesapeake"Bay"to"help"restore"oyster"stocks"and"clean"up"the"bay’s "polluFon."
A" recent" study" by" the" Johns"Hopkins"School"of" Public" Health" found" the" Asian" oyster" could" significantly"
benefit" the" bay’s" deterioraFng" water" quality" (source:# hJp://www.jhsph.edu/news/newsQreleases/2006/
graczykQoyster.html).
For"many"invasive"species"there"are"exisFng"or"potenFal"commercial"benefits."For"instance,"Silver"Carp"and"
Common"Carp"(where"heavy"metals"are"not"excessive"in"their"flesh)" can"be"harvested"for"human"food"and"
exported"to"markets"already" familiar" with"the"product"or" into"pet" foods"(source:#hJp://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Asian_carp)."Numerous"vegetaFve"'invasives'" like"water"hyacinth,"when" in"sufficient"quanFFes"to"be"
harvestable," can" be" turned" into" methane" digesters" if" no" other" beHer" use" can" be" determined." Some"
interesFng"data"on"organisms"digesFng"methane"is"being"uncovered"in"the"anermath"of"the"Macondo"Well"
rupture"in" the"Gulf"of" Mexico"(source:#Jyllian#Kemsley,#AVer#the#Deepwater#Horizon#Disaster,# Chemical#&#
Engineering#News,#2013).

Environmentalism(in(cultures
Although"Animism"has"now"been"replaced"by"the"current"great"world"religions,"it"is"likely"that"the"feeling"of"
powerlessness"before"the"forces"of" nature"led"to"early" forms"of" religion." So"the"fervour"with"which"some"
people"in"the"developed"world"pursue"environmental"issues"is,"in"a"strange"way,"a"return"to"earlier"beliefs.
In"the"developed"world," some"consider" that" with"the"perceived" decline"of" organised"ChrisFanity," recent"
disenchantment" with" capitalism’s" greedy" banksters" and" the" discrediFng" of" Marxism," environmentalism"
seems"to"have"filled"a"void"for"many."
In" the" developing" world" the" balance" is" different" with" regard" to" religion," for" the" Fme" being" at" least."
Environmental" Science" courses" at" universiFes" are" offered" and" reasonably" subscribed" and" the" first"
significant"evidence"of"ecoUwarriors,"are"visible.
Environmentalism" is" defined," in" the" American" Heritage" dicFonary" as" ‘advocacy" for" or" work" toward"
protecFng"the"natural"environment"from"destrucFon"or"polluFon’.
Environmentalists," in" the"developed" world," believe"that" people," in" the"developed" world," seem" to" have"
disconnected"themselves"from"nature"and"are"struggling"to"find"the"value"of"nature."They"see"nature"as"the"
source" of" much" value," spiritually," culturally," healthUwise"or" economically." The" environmentalists"see" the"
lack" of" valuaFon" as" an" underlying" cause" for" the" observed" degradaFon" of" ecosystems" and" the" loss" of"
biodiversity.
MarFn"Livermore,"who"is"an"independent"consultant"with"a"background"in"industry,"stated:"
“All"species"affect"their"environment"to"a"greater"or"lesser"degree."Termites"build"complex"homes,"beavers"
construct" dams" to" alter" the"flow" of" streams" and" grazing" animals"profoundly" alter" the" balance" of" plant"
species."People"do"the"same."The"difference"is"that"we"have"a"uniquely"greater"capacity" to" do"so."As "this"
capacity"has "grown,"so"has"our"awareness"of" the"consequences,"and" our" ability" to"make"raFonal"choices"
between"opFons”"(source:#hJp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4766096.stm,#2006).
In"the"last"generaFon," environmental"quality" in" the"developed"world"has"improved"greatly"by" almost" any"
measure."In"the"developing"world" that"change"is"slower"and,"so" far,"has"to"be"driven"by"people"from" the"
developed" world." With"the"speed"and"effecFveness "of" Internet"communicaFon,"the"current"situaFon"will"
not"remain"for"much"longer."And"companies"like"AtlanFc"LNG,"with"shareholders"like"Shell,"BG"and"BP"are"
mindful"that"the"plant" might" be" in" the"developing" world" but" the"customers"are"mainly" in" the"developed"
world.

4:(Marine(and(Coastal(Ecology
Introduc5on
Marine"ecosystems"cover"approximately"71%"of"the"Earth's"surface"and"contain"approximately"97%"of" the"
planet's"water"(source:#hJp://www.noaa.gov/ocean.html)."They"generate"32%" of"the"world's"net" primary"
producFon."They"are"disFnguished"from"freshwater"ecosystems"by"the"presence"of" dissolved"compounds,"
especially"salts," in"the"water." Approximately" 85%" of" the" dissolved" materials"in"seawater"are"sodium" and"
chlorine"(source:# hJp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqua_c_ecosystem)."Seawater"has"an" average"salinity" of"35"
parts "per"thousand"(ppt)"of"water."Actual"salinity"varies"among"different"marine"ecosystems"(source:#hJp://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seawater)."
Marine"ecosystems" can"be" divided" into" the"following" zones:" interFdal"(the" area" between" high" and" low"
Fdes),"neriFc" zone"(the"relaFvely" shallow"part" of" the"ocean"that"lies"over" the"conFnental"shelf);"oceanic"
(open"water);"abyssal"and"hadal"(deep"water"and"trenches),"benthic"(boHom"substrates)."Different"habitats"
include"estuaries,"salt"marshes,"coral"reefs"and"hydrothermal"vents"(where"chemosyntheFc"sulfur"bacteria"
form"the"food"base)."
Figure"6:"Zones"in"the"marine"ecosystem.
Classes"of" organisms"found"in"marine"ecosystems"include"brown"algae,"dinoflagellates,"corals"(Anthozoa),"
cephalopods,"echinoderms,"and"sharks"(Chondrichthyes)."Fish"caught"in"marine"ecosystems"are"the"biggest"
source"of"commercial"foods"obtained"from"wild"populaFons.
The"coastal"zone"is"a"dynamic"area"of" natural"change"and"of" increasing"human"use."They"occupy"less"than"
15%"of"the"earth's"land"surface;"yet"accommodate"more"than"50%"of" the"world"populaFon"(it"is"esFmated"

that" 3.1" billion" people" live" within" 200" kilometres" from" the" sea)" (hJp://www.savethesea.org/STS
%20ocean_facts.htm)."With"threeUquarters"of"the"world"populaFon"expected"to"reside"in"the"coastal"zone"
b y" 2 0 2 5" ( s o u r c e :# h J p : / / w w w . p r b . o r g / P u b l i c a _ o n s / R e p o r t s / 2 0 0 3 /
RippleEffectsPopula_onandCoastalRegions.aspx)","human"acFviFes"originaFng"from"this "small"land"area"will"
impose"an"inordinate"amount"of"pressure"on"the"global"ecosystem."Coastal"zones"contain"rich"resources"to"
produce"goods"and" services"and" are"home"to" most"commercial"and"industrial"acFviFes." " In"Trinidad" and"
Tobago,"more"than"half" of" the"populaFon"now"lives"along"the"west"coast"of" the"larger"island"(Trinidad)"and"
coastal"zone"resources"produce"much"of"the"naFon’s"economic"wealth."The"fishing,"shipping" and"tourism"
industries"all"compete"for"vital"space"along"the"coastline"that"contains"some"of"fragile"and"valuable"natural"
habitats.
Trinidad"and"Tobago"is"located"at"the"southern"end"of"the"eastern"Caribbean"island"chain"on"the"conFnental"
shelf" off" northeast" South" America," some" 8" miles" east" of" Venezuela;" the" islands" lie" downstream" of" the"
ouvlow"of" 17" South"American" rivers,"including" the"Amazon" and"Orinoco,"and"at"the"confluence"of" major"
ocean" currents " such" as" the" North" Equatorial" current." This" ouvlow" has" led" to" highly" diverse" marine"
environment.
Descrip5on(of(the(Marine(Environment
Trinidad"and"Tobago"has"one"of"the"largest"natural"sheltered"harbours"in"the"world,"the"Gulf"of"Paria,"which"
is "located"south"of" the"hurricane"belt."The"numerous"yachts"that"arrive"at"Chaguaramas"Bay,"in"the"north"
west"corner"peninsular"of"the"larger"island"aHest"to"this."Several"large"ships"are"always"seen"in"the"Gulf"of"
Paria.
The"country’s"economy"is"strongly"influenced"by"the"petroleum"industry."Tourism"and" manufacturing" are"
also" important" to" the" local" economy." Tourism" is" a" growing" sector," although" not" proporFonately" as"
important"as"in"many"other"Caribbean"islands."Growth"has"been"fueled"by"investments"in"liquefied"natural"
gas"(LNG),"petrochemicals,"and"steel."
Trinidad"and"Tobago"is"the"leading"Caribbean"producer"of"oil"and"gas,"and"its"economy"is"heavily"dependent"
upon" these"resources "but" it" also" supplies" manufactured" goods," notably" food" and" beverages,"as"well" as"
cement"to"the"Caribbean"region."Oil"and"gas "account"for"about"40%"of"GDP"and"80%"of"exports."More"than"
95%"of"these"oil"and"gas"vessel"movements"pass "through"the"Gulf" of" Paria."The""LNG"terminal"has"over"200"
vessel"calls"per"year.
The"port"of"Port"of" Spain"handles"1000"containers"per"day,"half"of" which"are"for"transshipment."While"the"
Port" of" Point" Lisas"is"the"second" major"port" in" Trinidad" and" covers"a" total" area" of" approximately" 19.51"
hectares." With" its" strategic" locaFon," the" port" is" onen" referred" to" as" the" "Gateways" to" the" Americas""
catering"for"containerized"cargo"from"the"U.S.,"Europe,"United"Kingdom"and"the"Far"East."Port"Point"Lisas"is"
a" mulFpurpose" cargo" facility" operaFng" on" a" 24/7" basis " and" the" port" handles" a" wide" range" of" traffic"
including"dry"and"liquid"bulks,"containers,"general"cargo"and"breakUbulk"servicing"both

The"port"of" PointeUaUPierre,"which"serves"the"Petrotrin"Refinery"that"is"incidentally,"the"only"refinery"in"the"
world"to"coUexist"with"a"wildlife"park"is"also"in"the"Gulf"of"Paria."The"refinery’s"capacity"is"175,000"BOPD"and"
is "the"sole"refinery"in"Trinidad"and"Tobago."It"complements"its"crude"oil"producFon"with"purchases "from"the"
smaller"producers,"and"imports"more"than"half"of" its"requirement"from"Venezuela."Seventy" percent"of" the"
refined"products"are"exported"(source:#Emma#Brossard,#PetroCaribe:#Chavez’s# Impossible#Energy#Program,#
Petroleumworld,#2006).
In"addiFon"to"these"major"ports"there"is "a"small"cement"port"at"Claxton"Bay"and"a"fledgling"port"serving"an"
industrial"estate"sFll"in"infancy"at"La"Brea.
Changes)in)the)Marine)Environment)
The"beaches"more"frequented"by"tourists"coming"to"Trinidad"and"Tobago"are"located"on"the"smaller"island"
of"Tobago."The"beach"resorts "on"the"larger"island"are"on"the"north"and"east"coasts."While"the"offshore"oil"
and" gas"plavorms"are"off" these"coasts,"their" normal"operaFons"do" not" affect"the"quality" of" the"beaches"
except"to"interfere"with"the"view.
The"issue"of" beaches"and"environment"in"Trinidad"and"Tobago"is"a "sensiFve"one."NaFonals"will"remember"
Clinon" Hill"Beach"in"Point"ForFn,"backed"by"almond"trees,"this"beach"was"a"favourite"of"those"on"Sunday"
excursions." Unfortunately" the" laying" of" the" pipeline" to" provide" gas" for" the" LNG" plant" resulted" in" the"
destrucFon"of"the"beach."Today"there"is"a"large"sea "wall"where"previously"children"played"on"the"sand."For"
bathing"in"this"area,"one"now"has"to"go"to"the"east"of"the"original"beach."A"road"has "been"constructed"close"
to"the"rock"sea"wall"that" parallels"the"seashore"and"runs"along" the"edge"of"the"former"golf" course."From"
along"this"road"one"can"access"the"beach"for"bathing"and"fishing."At"the"end"of"the"road"a"beach"facility"has"
been"built"with"a"large"paved"car"park,"thatched" roofed"picnic"tables," a "lifeguard"staFon,"changing" rooms"
and"toilets."

5:(Marine(Environmental(Components
Inter5dal(zone
The"interFdal"zone"is"the"area"between"the"high"Fde"and"low"Fde"marks"on"the"shore."It"is "the"area"that"is"
exposed"to"the"air"at"low"water"and"underwater"at"high"water."The"Fdal"range"in"Point"ForFn"is"about"1.2"
metres"and"because"the"port"is"built"on"reclaimed"land," the"area"has "a"correspondingly" narrow" interFdal"
zone." The" different" types " of" marine" life" and" vegetaFon" in" the" interFdal" zone" have" to" adapt" to" an"
environment" of" harsh" extreme." In" the"tropics," the" organisms" can" be" submerged"in" salt" water" for" hours"
every"day"and"every"night,"can"expect"to"be"rained"on"by"fresh"water"at"anyFme"during"the"exposed"period"
and"can"be"baked"in"sun"and"end"up"high"and"dry"and"caked"in"dry"salt."With"the"right"kind"of"wave"acFon"
and"Fme"of"day"organisms"can"experience"all"the"condiFons"in"a"six"hour"period.
Benthic(Zone
The"benthic"zone"is"the"ecological"region"at"the"lowest"level"of"a"body"of"water"such"as"an"ocean"or"a"lake,"
including" the" sediment" surface" and" some" subUsurface" layers." Organisms" living" in" this" zone" are" called"
benthos."They"generally"live"in"close"relaFonship"with"the"substrate"boHom;
Figure"7:"Organisms"from"the"Benthic"zone."Every"one"a"Manchester"United"Fan
many"such"organisms"are"permanently"aHached"to"the"boHom."The"superficial"layer"of" the"soil"lining" the"

given"body"of" water"is"an"integral"part"of" the"benthic"zone," as"it"influences"greatly" the"biological"acFvity"
which"takes "place"there."Examples"of"contact"soil"layers"include"sand"boHoms,"rock"outcrops,"coral,"and"bay"
mud.
Habitats
Marine"habitats"are"environments"in"which"vegetaFon"and"marine"life"live."There"are"many"different"types"
of" habitat" within"the"widely" varying" areas"of" the" world," ranging" from" the"freezing" polar" ice,"through" the"
pelagic"zone,"deep"sea,"hydrothermal"vents,"mangrove,"sea"grass,"and"the"interFdal"zone"to"tropical"coral"
reefs." These" habitats " all" come" with" their" unique" challenges" and" are" inhabited" by" a" wide" variety" of"
organisms.
Ecological(Receptors(and(Values
Ecological"receptors"are"ecosystems,"habitats,"communiFes,"populaFons"and"individual"organisms"that"can"
be"exposed" directly" or" indirectly"to"a"stressor"where"a"stressor" is"a"physical,"chemical"or"biological"enFty"
that"induces"an"adverse"response"in"a"plant,"animal"or"ecosystem.
Ecological" values" are" the" plants," animals " or" ecosystems" that" are" idenFfied" and" considered" to" be" of"
significant" societal" relevance,"ecological" or" economical"significance." Ecological" values"may" be" generic" or"
specific"to"a"parFcular"site"or"habitat.
Fisheries
In" Trinidad" and" Tobago" recreaFonal" fishermen" generally" fish" from" boats" or" from" the" shore." These"
recreaFonal"fishermen" use" predominantly" hook" and" line" fishing" methods" such" as" aUlaUvive," trolling" and"
banking." Estuaries" (river" mouth)" are" parFcularly" popular" with" onUshore" fishermen." The" mouths " of" the"
Nariva"and"the"Ortoire"Rivers "are"prized"fishing"locaFons."Many"species"of"fish"enter"the"rivers "from"the"sea"
on"the"high"Fde"and"exit"on" the"low" Fde."Surf" fishing" is"also"popular"and"can"be"seen" from"almost"every"
beach"in"Trinidad."Indeed"it"is"a"common"pracFce"to"take"the"family"to"the"beach"for"a"swim"and"while"there"
try" your" luck" with" the"rod." Spear" fishing" in" conjuncFon" with" snorkelling" or" SCUBA" diving" has"grown" in"
popularity.
Marine(Mammals
Trinidad" has" the" last" remaining" populaFon" of" manatees "among" the"eastern" Caribbean" islands," which" is"
composed"of"a "small"number"of" individuals"confined"to"a"small"swamp"on"the"east"coast"of"the"island."The"
Gulf" of" Paria"was"previously"called"‘Golfo"de"la"Ballena’"(Whale’s"Gulf)." "It"is"unclear"is"when"commercial"
whaling" began" in" the" area " but" whaling" is" considered" to" be" one" of" the" earliest" industries" of" Trinidad."
Commercial"whaling"most"likely"began"around"1826."The"results "of"this "exploitaFon"in"Trinidad"and"Tobago"
as"in"other"countries"in"the"area"that"pracFsed"intense"whaling,"local"populaFons"of"humpback"whales"have"
become"virtually"exFnct"in"their"waters.
In" 2010," on" the" back" of" recent" pilot" whale" sighFngs"in" the" Gulf" of" Paria," the"opportunity" was" taken" to"
conduct" further"invesFgaFons,"making"use"of" the"tremendous"experFse"of" InternaFonal"Fund" for"Animal"
Welfare"in"marine"mammal"research"and"conservaFon."The"deployment"a"marine"electronic"depth"sounder"
that"can"detect"the"presence"of" aquaFc"life"off" Chacachacare"Island," registered"that"there"was"boHlenose"
dolphin"acFvity"in"the"area.

Hydrodynamics(and(the(Sedimentary(Regime
This"is "the" area" where"the"marine" biologists"considers "the" potenFal"impacts"of" the"dredging" project" on"
currents,"Fdes"and"wave"climate"within"the"dredging"and"disposal"areas,"as"well"as"the"potenFal"impacts"on"
the" sediment" regime." The" assessment" will" consider" the" impact" of" the" postUdredge" bathymetry" on" the"
hydrodynamics"and" sedimentary" regime"as"well" as" the" impact" of" the" dredging" operaFon" itself" on" local"
turbidity"and"sediment"deposiFon.
Water(Column
A" water"column"is "a"conceptual"column"of" water"from" surface"to" boHom"sediments."This"concept"is "used"

chiefly"for"environmental"studies"evaluaFng" the"straFficaFon"or"mixing"(e.g."by"wind"induced"currents)"of"
the" thermal"or"chemically" straFfied" layers"in"a"lake,"stream"or" ocean." Some"of" the"common" parameters"
analyzed" in" the" water" column" are:" pH," turbidity," temperature," salinity," total" dissolved" solids," various"
pesFcides,"pathogens"and"a"wide"variety"of"chemicals"and"biota.
Figure"8:"Typical"Water"column"in"the"ArcFc"region
The" concept" of" water" column" is" quite" important," since"many" aquaFc" phenomena" are" explained" by" the"
incomplete"verFcal"mixing"of" chemical,"physical"or"biological"parameters."For"example,"when"studying" the"
metabolism"of"benthic"organisms,"it"is"the"specific"boHom"layer"concentraFon"of"available"chemicals"in"the"
water"column"that"is "meaningful,"rather"than"the"average"value"of" those"chemicals"throughout"the"water"
column."The"process"of"dredging"onen"dislodges"chemicals"residing"in"benthic"substrates"and"injects"them"
into"the"water"column.
Turbidity
Turbidity" is"degree"of"the"cloudiness"of" the"water"caused"by"parFcles"of"suspended"solids."The"individual"

parFcles"are"likely"to"be"invisible"to"the"naked"eye,"not"unlike"smoke"in"air."The"measurement"of"turbidity"is"

a"key"test"of"water"quality."The"suspended"solid"maHer"will"contain"parFcles"of"many"different"sizes."Some"
of" the" " suspended" material"will"be"large"enough" and"heavy"enough"to"seHle"rapidly" to"the"boHom"if" the"
body"of"water"is"undisturbed."The"very"small"parFcles"will"seHle"very"slowly"if"at"all."
"

6:(Environmental(Impact(of(a(Dredging(Opera5on
Corporate(Responsibility
The"port’s"Marine"OperaFons"Department"(or"equivalent)" would"have"idenFfied"the"need"to"dredge."The"
Marine"department"would"arrange"for"interim"hydrographic"surveys"to"be"done"and"reported"periodically"
and"also"observe"or"obtain"feedback"from"the"echo"sounder"readings"of"ships"transiFng"the"channel.
In"selecFng" a"contractor"to"perform"the"dredging,"the"port’s"senior"management"will"have"to"be"saFsfied"
that" the" work" can" be" performed" safely," efficiently," cost" effecFvely," legally" and" in" an" environmentally"
friendly" manner." MaHers" of" risk" management," statutory" compliance," occupaFonal" health" and" safety,"
environmental" policies," quality" assurance" standards" and" administraFon" (including" records" and" reports)"
have" to" be" agreed" between" port" management" and" the" selected" dredging" contractor" and" documented."
These" documents" will" become" part" of" the" document" package" when" the" applicaFon" is" made" to" the"
AuthoriFes"for"permission"to"dredge"and"dispose"of"spoil.
A"team"comprising"of"port"pracFFoners"with"experience"in"vessel"inspecFon,"safety"and"environmental"
disciplines"physically"inspects"the"equipment"and"obtains"copies"of"all"relevant"cerFficates"and"
documentaFon."Of"course,"these"days"most"documents"can"be"exchanged"via"email"long"before"the"vessels"
arrive"at"the"work"site.
The" port’s" Procurement" Department" ensures" that" the" purchasing" policies" and" contract" management"
procedures"are"followed"strictly."The"port’s"Financial"Department"has "to"be"saFsfied"that"cost"minimisaFon"
measures"are"taken.
The"port’s"Legal"Department"can" assist"with"seeking" permission"from"the"AuthoriFes"in"order" to"proceed"
with"the"dredging."The"various"authoriFes"in"Trinidad" and"Tobago"with"an"interest"in"dredging"operaFons"
include"the"MariFme"Services"Division"(MSD)" of" the"Ministry" of" Works"and"Transport,"the"Environmental"
Management" Agency" (EMA)," the" Ministry" of" Energy" and" Energy" Affairs" (MEEA)" and" the" Office" of" the"
Commissioner"of"State"Lands"in"the"Ministry"of" Agriculture,"Land"and"Marine"Resources."The"port’s"Health,"
Safety"and"Environment"Department"performs"due"diligence"on"behalf"of"the"company"with"regards"to"eco"
safety,"meaning" checking"the"adequacy"of"the"dump"site,"polluFon"of"coastal"areas,"disturbance"of"marine"
flora"and"fauna"in"the"channel.
Environmental(Impact(of(Dredging(Ac5vity
The"acFvity"of"dredging"has"the"potenFal"create"the"following"principal"impacts"to"the"environment:
- release"of"toxic"chemicals"(including"heavy"metals"and"PCB)"from"boHom"sediments"into"the"water"
column."
- short"term"increases"in"turbidity,"which" can"affect"aquaFc" species"metabolism"and" interfere"with"
spawning."
- secondary" effects"from" water" column" contaminaFon"of" uptake" of" heavy" metals," DDT" and" other"
persistent"organic"toxins,"via"food"chain" uptake"and"subsequent"concentraFons "of" these"toxins "in"
higher"organisms"including"humans."
- secondary"impacts"to"marsh"producFvity"from"sedimentaFon"
- terFary"impacts"to"avifauna"which"may"prey"upon"contaminated"aquaFc"organisms"

- secondary"impacts"to"aquaFc"and"benthic"organisms'"metabolism"and"mortality
- possible"contaminaFon"of"dredge"spoil"disposal"sites"
The"CEC"applicaFon"includes"the"requirement"to"take"samples"of"the"sediment"to"be"dredged"and"the"water"
column" and" have" them" analysed" for" a "prescribed" suite" of" toxins." Similar" sampling" and" analysis" of" the"
disposal"site"can"also"be"requested.
Dredged(Spoil
Dredge" spoil" is" the" material" removed" by" dredging." Dredge" spoil" disposal" is" the" deposiFng" of" dredged"
materials"on"land"or"into"water"bodies "for"the"purpose"of" either"creaFng"new"or"addiFonal"lands"for"other"
uses"or"disposing"of"the"byUproducts"of"dredging.
Figure" 9:" OpFons" for" Trailing" SucFon" Hopper" Dredger" disposing" spoil." Labels" are:" further" recycling" as"
building"materials"on"land,"sediment"removal"by"dredging,"dumping.
Adapted"from"hHps://wwwUold.marum.de/Binaries/Binary10363/baggergutverwendung.gif"
In"a"hopper"dredger,"the"dredged" materials"end" up"in"a"large"onboard" hold"called"a""hopper"."A" hopper"

dredge" usually" has"doors "in"its"boHom" to" empty" the" dredged" materials," but" some"dredges"empty" their"
hoppers"by"splisng"the"two"halves"of" their"hulls"on"giant"hinges."Either"way,"as"the"vessel"dredges,"excess"
water"in"the"dredged"materials"is"spilled"off" as"the"heavier"solids"seHle"to"the"boHom"of" the"hopper."This"
excess"water"is"returned"to"the"sea "to"reduce"weight"and"increase"the"amount"of"solid"material"(or"slurry)"
that"can"be"carried"in"one"load."When"the"hopper"is"filled"with"slurry,"the"dredger"stops "dredging"and"goes"
to"a"dump"site"and"empFes"its"hopper.
Some"hopper"dredges"are"designed"so"they"can"also"be"empFed"from"above"using"pumps"if"dump"sites"are"
unavailable"or" if" the" dredge" material" is "contaminated." SomeFmes" the"slurry" of" dredgings" and" water" is"
pumped"straight"into" pipes"which" deposit"it"on"nearby"land."Other" Fmes,"it"is"pumped"into" barges"(also"
called"scows),"which"deposit"it"elsewhere"while"the"dredge"conFnues"its"work.

Figure"10:"Clamshell"dredger"with"a"bucket"full"from"the"seabed.
Dredged(Spoil(Characteris5cs
The"following"informaFon"should"be"determined"for"all"dredged"spoil"to"be"disposed"of"at"sea:"
- Gross"wet"tonnage
- Method"of"dredging"
- Visual"determinaFon"of"sediment"characterisFcs"(clayUsilt/sand/gravel/boulders).
Assessing)poten;al)impact)on)disposal)sites
Further"informaFon"about"dredged"spoil"is"required"to"fully"assess"the"impact"it"will"have"on"the"disposal"
sites."This"informaFon"might"be"available"from"exisFng"sources,"e.g."from"field"observaFons"on"the"impact"
of"similar"material"at"similar"sites"or"from"previous"test"data"on"similar"material"tested"not"more"than"five"
years "previously"and"knowledge"of"local"discharges"or"other"sources"of" polluFon,"supported"by"a"selecFve"
analysis."
The"purpose"of"tesFng"is "to"establish"whether"the"disposal"at"sea"of"dredged"spoil"containing"contaminants"
might"cause"undesirable"effects,"especially" the"possibility"of"chronic"or"acute"effects"on"marine"organisms"
or"human"health,"whether"or"not"arising"from"their"bioaccumulaFon"in"marine"organisms"and"especially"in"
food"species.
Chemical"characterisaFon"is"the"necessary"first"step" to"esFmate"gross"loading"of" contaminants,"especially"
for"new"arisings"of"dredged"spoil."
If" previous"analysis"of" the" material"shows"the" presence"of" contaminants"in"considerable"quanFFes"or"of"
substances" whose" biological" effects" are" not" understood" and" if" there" is" concern" for" antagonisFc" or"
synergisFc"effects"of" more" than"one"substance," or"if" there"is"any" doubt" about"the"exact" composiFon" or"

properFes" of" the" material," it" may" be" necessary" to" carry" out" suitable" biological" test" procedures." These"
procedures"may"include"the"following:
- Acute"toxicity"tests;
- Chronic"toxicity"tests"capable"of"evaluaFng"longUterm"sub"lethal"effects,"such"as"bioassays"covering"
an"enFre"life"cycle;
- Tests"to"determine"the"potenFal"for"bioaccumulaFon"of"the"substance"of"concern
Where" it" can" be" established" that" the" dredged" spoil" is" substanFally" similar" in" physical" and" chemical"
properFes"to"the"sediments"at"the"proposed"disposal"site,"biological"tesFng"may"not"be"necessary"providing"
the"cumulaFve"impacts "at"the"disposal"site"will"not"exceed"the"environmental"management"objecFves"for"
the" area"concerned."More" details"on"the"required"tests"are"available" from"the"EMA" and" from"the"Spree"
Spirit"publicaFon,"‘Guidelines"for"Maintenance"Dredging"in"Trinidad"and"Tobago’.
Disposal(Site(Selec5on
Site"selecFon"to"minimize"impact"on"commercial"and"recreaFonal"fishing" areas "is "a"major"consideraFon"in"

resource"protecFon."Proper"disposal"site"selecFon"rather"than"tesFng"applicaFon"is"recommended.
Disposal"site"informaFon"to"be"considered"by"authoriFes"at"a"very"early"stage"of" assessment"of"a"new"site"
should"include"the"laFtude"and"longitude"coordinates"as"well"as"its"locaFon"with"regard"to:
- Distance"to"nearest"coastline
- Depth
- RecreaFonal"areas
- Spawning"and"nursery"areas
- Known"migraFon"routes"for"fish"or"marine"mammals
- Sport"and"commercial"fishing"areas
- Areas"of"natural"beauty"or"significant"cultural"or"historical"importance
- Areas"of"special"scienFfic"or"biological"importance"(marine"sanctuaries)
- Shipping"lanes
- Military"exclusion"zones
- Engineering" uses" of" seafloor" (e.g." potenFal" or" onUgoing" seabed" mining," undersea" cables,"
desalinaFon"or"energy"conservaFon"sites
"
The"basic" assessment"of" a"site," either"new"or"exisFng,"shall"include" the"consideraFon"of" possible" effects"
that"might"arise"by" the"increase"of" certain"consFtuents"or"by"the"interacFon"(e.g."synergisFc"effects)" with"
other"substances"introduced"in"the"area," either"by" other" dumping"or" by"river" input"and" discharges"from"
coastal" areas," by" exploitaFon" areas" and" mariFme" transport," as" well" as" through" that" atmosphere." The"
exisFng"stress"on"biological"communiFes"as"a"result"of" such"acFviFes"should"be"evaluated"before"any"new"
or"addiFonal"disposal"operaFons"are"established."The"possible"future"uses"of" the"sea"area"should"be"kept"
under"consideraFon.
InformaFon"from"baseline"and"monitoring"studies"at"already"established"dumping"sites"will"be"important"in"
the"evaluaFon"of"any"new"dumping"acFvity"at"the"same"site"or"nearby."For"maintenance"dredging"projects,"
previously"used"disposal"sites"will"most"likely" be"suggested"and"the"challenge"will"more"likely"be"whether"
industrial" acFvity," such" as" drilling" and" or" pipe" laying" is" in" progress." CommunicaFon" between" the"
stakeholders"will"help"decide"if"and"how"spoil"disposal"can"occur"as"a"simultaneous"operaFon.

Disposal)Site)Characteris;cs
When"dredging" operaFons"are"intended,"the"scoping" would"recommend"preliminary"studies "to"determine"

whether" the" proposed" disposal" sites" possess" species "or" assemblages" of" unique" or" parFcular" biological"
interest"and"to"provide"a"baseline"with"which"to"compare"future"effects"aner"disposal"has"occurred.
In"order"to"assess"the"capacity"of"the"area"for"receiving"dredged"spoil"both"the"total"amount"of"material"and"
the"anFcipated"or"actual"loading"rate"at"the"disposal"site"should"be"taken"into"account.

7:(Dredging(and(Disposal(Site(Sampling(and(Analysis
Sediment"sampling"in"the"Gulf" of"Paria "usually"involves"one"metre"long"and"approximately"ten"cenFmetre"
diameter"pipe"being"pushed"into"the"silt"at"various "locaFons"(as"prescribed"by"EMA"guidance)"and"removed"
with"the"contents"intact."There"are"other"types"of"sampling"and"analysis.
Side(scan(sonar
Side"scan"sonar"is"a"tool"that"is"used"to"efficiently"create"an"image"of"large"areas"of"the"sea"floor."It"is"used"
for"mapping"the"seabed"for"a"wide"variety"of" purposes,"including"creaFon"of" nauFcal"charts"and"detecFon"
and" idenFficaFon" of" underwater"objects"and" bathymetric" features." It"may" be" used," in" conjuncFon" with"
seafloor"samples,"to"conduct"surveys"capable"of"providing" an"understanding"of"the"differences"in"material"
and" texture"type"of" the"seabed." Side" scan" sonar" imagery" is"also"a" commonly" used" tool" to" detect" debris"
items"and"other"obstrucFons"on"the"seafloor"that"may"be"hazardous"to"shipping"or"to"seafloor"installaFons"
by" the" oil" and" gas" industry." In" addiFon," the" status" of" pipelines" and" cables" on" the" seafloor" can" be"
invesFgated" using" sideUscan" sonar." SideUscan" data" are" frequently" acquired" along" with" bathymetric"
soundings"and"subUboHom"profiler"data,"thus"providing" a"glimpse"of"the"shallow"structure"of"the"seabed."
Side"scan"sonar"is"also"used"for"fisheries"research,"dredging"operaFons"and"environmental"studies.

Figure"11:"Side"scan"sonar"in"acFon
Video(‘Splashcam’(drops(
These"are"cameras"that"can"be"just""dropped""into"the"water."Some"manufacturers"claim"some"models"of"
underwater"camera"provide"broadcast"quality"video"and"superUhigh"resoluFon"color,"even"under"lowUlight"
condiFons."These" are" used" to" determine" major" habitat" boundaries" and" the" presence" of" major" epifauna"
habitats.

Figure"12:"Video"Splashcam"monitor.
Benthic(grab(survey
If"the"job"is"being"done"properly,"sediment"samples "have"to"be"tested"for"toxicity,"organic"content,"oxygen"
concentraFon,"sediment"type"and"grain" size"parameters"in"the"laboratory."Grab"samples"may"be"washed"
and"sieved"to"separate"organisms"from"the"sediment."The"organisms"are"then"idenFfied"and"enumerated."
Grab" samplers" are" relaFvely" light" and" easy" to" operate;" however," the" sediments" are" disturbed" during"
sampling,"so"grab"samples"will"not"yield"informaFon"about"sediment"structure."Grab"samplers"are"designed"
for"son"sediments,"so"hard"boHom"or"reef" structures"cannot"be"sampled"effecFvely" using" grab"samplers."
Grab" sample" analysis" can" be" FmeUconsuming" and" expensive" since" samples" must" be" analyzed" in" a"
laboratory." There" are" several" different" models" of" grab" samplers;" however," each" one" has" a" similar"
mechanism"for"collecFng"the"sample."The"open"sampler"is"lowered"to"the"seafloor,"where"it"penetrates"the"
sedimentUwater"interface"and"then"closes."The"device"is"then"raised"to"the"surface"with"the"intact"sediment"
sample." Benthic" grab" sampling" gives" quanFtaFve" esFmates" of" relaFve" density" and" species" richness" of"
macro"benthic"infauna.
Physical(Impact(of(Dredged(Spoil(Disposal
All"dredged"spoils,"whether"contaminated"or"not,"have"a"significant"physical"impact"at"the"point"of"disposal."
This" impact" includes" the" covering" of" the" seabed" (and" smothering" of" the" benthic" organisms)" and" local"
enhancement" of" suspended" solid" levels." Physical" impact" may" also" result" from" the" onward" transport"
parFcularly"in"finer"fracFons,"by"wave"and"Fdal"acFon"and"residual"current"movements.
In" relaFvely" enclosed" waters," such" as" some" estuarine" situaFons," oxygenUconsuming" sediments" could"
adversely"affect"the"oxygen"regime"of"the"disposal"sites.
In"the"open"sea,"blankeFng"of"the"seabed"is"usually"the"most"significant"physical"effect."The"impact"of" the"
dredged"spoil"on"the"suspended"solids"regime"in"most"coastal"waters"onen"will"be"transient"or"negligible.

Biological"consequences"of"these"physical"impacts"include"smothering"of" benthic"organisms"in"the"disposal"
site."Disposal"may" in"some"cases"interfere"with"the"migraFon"of" fish" (e.g." the"impact"of" high"turbidity"on"
salmonoids "in"estuarine"areas)"or"of"crustacean"(e.g."if"deposiFon"occurred"in"the"coastal"migraFon"path"of"
crabs).
An"important"consequence"of"the"physical"presence"of" dredged"spoil"disposal"acFviFes"is"interference"with"
fishing" acFviFes" and," in" some" instances," with" navigaFon" and" recreaFon." The" former" relates" to" both"
smothering" of" areas " potenFally" used" for" fisheries" and" interference" with" fixed" fishing" gear;" shoaling"
following" dumping" can" lead" to" navigaFonal" hazards" and" clay" or" silt" deposiFon" may" be" a " nuisance" in"
recreaFonal" areas." These" problems" can" be" aggravated" if" the" spoil" is "contaminated" with" bulky" harbour"
debris"such"as"wooden"beams,"scrap"metal,"pieces"of"cable"etc.
Figure"13:"Business"end"of"TSHD"sucFon.
Managing)the)Physical)Effects)of)Dredged)Spoil)Disposal
The"most"important"factor"in"the"management"of"the"physical"effects"of"dredged"spoil"disposal"is"by"careful"
site"selecFon"along" with"an"assessment"of"conflict"between"marine"resources"and"acFviFes."In"most"cases,"
blankeFng"of"an"area"of"seabed"is"accepted"as"an"environmental"cost"of"disposal."To"avoid"excessive"use"of"
the"seabed,"the"number"of" sites"should"be"limited" as"far"as"possible"and"each"site"should"be"used" to" the"
maximum"extent"possible"without"interfering"with"navigaFon."Once"deposiFon"stops,"hydrodynamic"forces"
will"resort"the"nature"of" the"sediments"and"reUcolonisaFon"is"usually"rapid."In"some"cases,"it"is"noted"that"
old"spoil"sites"become"producFve"new"fishing"areas.
Effects" can" be" minimized" by" ensuring" as" far" as" possible" that" the" sediments" in" the" dredged" spoil" and"
receiving" area" are" similar." Locally," biological" impact" may" be" further" reduced" if" the" deposiFon" area " is"
naturally"subject"to"physical"disturbance."Where"this"is"not"possible,"consideraFon"should"be"given"where"
clean,"fine"materials"are"concerned"to"a "deliberately"dispersive"style"of"disposal"to"reduce"blankeFng"on"a"
small"site.
With"capital"and"maintenance"dredging,"the"material"may"be"different"in"character"to"the"sediments"at"the"
receiving" site"and"colonisaFon"may" be"less"rapid."Where"bulky" material"such"as"rock"and" clay" material"is"
deposited,"there"may"be"interference"with"fishing" acFvity,"even"in"the"long" term."It"may"prove"possible"to"

use"capital"materials"in"the"construcFon"of"arFficial"reefs"for"fishery"or"recreaFonal"purposes"or"for"habitat"
creaFon;"in"this"case,"advice"from"ecologists"or"fishery"biologists"is"essenFal.
The" infilling" of" depressions" or" deliberate" capping" of" dredged" spoil" deposits" may" be" used" in" certain"
circumstances"to"avoid"interferences"with"fishery"or"other"legiFmate"acFviFes.
Interference"with"fish"or"crustacean"migraFon"or"spawning"or"with"seasonal"fishery"acFvity"may"be"avoided"
by" Fming" restricFons"on" disposal" acFvity." Trench" digging" and" refilling" acFviFes"may" also" interfere" with"
migratory"paHerns;"similar"controls"are"appropriate."In"miFgaFng"the"impact"of"disposal"within"estuaries"on"
migraFng"fish,"silt"screens"have"been" used" to"reduce"the"suspended"solids"levels," but"these"have"proved"
hard"to"manage"effecFvely.
Disposal"vessels"and"operaFons"should"be"inspected"regularly"to"ensure"that"the"condiFons"of"the"disposal"
permit" are" being" complied" with" and" that" the" crew" is" aware" of" their" responsibiliFes" under" the" permit."
Where"rubbish"is"a"problem," it" may"be"necessary" to" specify"that"the"disposal"vessel"(or" dredger)" is"fiHed"
with"a"grid"to"facilitate"removal"for"disposal"(or"recovery)"on"land,"rather"than"being"dumped"at"sea."Ships'"
records"should"be"inspected"to"ensure"that"disposal"is"taking"place"at"the"specified"disposal"site.
Disposal)Site)Dispersal)Characteris;cs
The"use"of"dispersive"sites"even"for"the"disposal"of"sediments"with"low"levels"of"contaminaFon"is"not"devoid"
of" environmental" risk" and" requires"consideraFon" of" the" fate" and" effects" of" dispersed"material." There" is"
evidence"to"suggest"that"at"certain"wellUchosen"estuarine"sites,"dredged"spoil"may"enhance"the"habitats"of"
desired"species."
For"evaluaFon"of"dispersal"characterisFcs,"data"should"be"obtained"on"the"following:
- water"depths"(maximum,"minimum"and"mean)
- water" straFficaFon" in" various" seasons"and" weather" condiFons "(depth" and" seasonal"variaFon" of"
pycnocline)
- Fdal"period,"orientaFon"of"Fdal"ellipse,"velociFes"of"minor"and"major"axis
- mean"surface"drin"(net):"direcFon"and"speed
- mean"boHom"drin"(net):"direcFon"and"speed
- storm"(wave)"induced"currents"(velociFes)
- wind"and"wave"characterisFcs,"average"number"of"storm"days"per"year
- concentraFon"and"composiFon"of"suspended"solids
Impact(Hypothesis
The"Impact"Hypothesis"is"an"aHempt"at"predicFng"the"effects"of"the"dredging"and"disposal"on"the"physical,"
chemical" and" biological" environment." An" Impact" Hypothesis" should" integrate" informaFon" on" the"
characterisFcs"of" the"dredged"spoil"and"proposed"disposal"site"condiFons."The"aim"is"to"provide"a"concise"
scienFfic" analysis" of" the"potenFal" effects"on" human" health," living" resources," marine" life," ameniFes" and"
other" legiFmate" uses"of" the" sea."It" should" encompass"both" the"temporal"and" spaFal"scales"of" potenFal"
effects.
The" primary" areas"of" potenFal"impact" should" be" idenFfied" and" are" those" considered"to" have" the" most"
serious"consequences" for" human" health" and" the" environment." AlteraFons" to" the" physical" environment,"
risks"to"human"health,"devaluaFon"of" marine"resources,"and"interference"with"other"legiFmate"uses"of" the"
sea"are"onen"seen"as"prioriFes"in"this"regard.
Recommenda5ons(for(monitoring(the(Disposal(site
Substances"in" dredged" spoil" may" undergo" physical," chemical"and" biological"changes"when" entering" the"
marine"environment."The"suscepFbility"of"dredged"spoil"to"such"changes"should"be"considered"in"the"light"
of" the" eventual" fate" and" potenFal" effects" of" the" dredged" spoil." This" may" be" reflected" in" the" Impact"
Hypothesis"and"also"a"monitoring"programme.
The"purposes"of" monitoring" are"to"determine"contaminant"levels"in"organisms,"the"biological"effects"and"
consequences"for"the"marine"environment"due"to"the"dumping"of"dredged"spoil"and"to"allow"managers"to"
control"exposures"of"the"organisms"of"concern"to"dredged"spoils"and"associated"contaminants.
The"monitoring"programme"would"consider:
• The"recolonisaFon"rate"for"macro"benthic"fauna"aner"spoil"disposal"in"the"main"disposal"area;
• Changes"in"the"composiFon" of" the"assemblage"relaFve"to"preUdisposal"baselines"and"unimpacted"
control"sites;
• The"extents"of"movement"of"dredge"spoil"in"space"and"Fme;
• Effects"of" sediment" deposiFon" at"varying"intensiFes"(i.e."varying" distances"from"the"disposal"site,"
measured"with"sediment"traps"and/or"sediment"profiling)"on"assemblage"composiFon;
• The"recolonisaFon"Fme"of"assemblages"under"varying"sedimentaFon"scenarios

8:(Cer5ficate(of(Environmental(Clearance
Maintenance(Dredging(Sediment(Reten5on
The"CEC"sFpulates"as"a"condiFon"that"sediment"retenFon"measures"shall"be"uFlised,"as"pracFcable,"prior"to"
the"commencement"of" all"dredging" and" disposal"acFviFes"to" minimise"reUsuspension"of" sediments"in" the"
near"shore"coastal"waters."These"sedimentUretenFon"measures"can"include,"but"are"not"limited"to:"
Establishment" of" floaFng" turbidity" barriers"such" as" silt" curtains"or" gunderbooms"to" minimise" sediment"
dispersion"in"the"near"shore"coastal"environment;
Ensuring"a "single"grab"methodology"uFlising"clamshell"buckets"for"sediment"collecFon"to"prevent"waves"of"
suspended"sediments."
The"CEC" states"the"type"of" dredging" equipment," as"requested"on"the"applicaFon" form,"to"be"used" in" the"
operaFon." In" most" cases" of" maintenance"dredging" in" the" Gulf" of" Paria"a" Clamshell" (Grab)" Dredger" and"
Trailing"SucFon"Hopper"Dredger"(TSHD)"would"be"the"main"types"of"dredge"equipment"used"to"conduct"the"
dredging"acFviFes"of"the"approach"channel"and"turning"basin."
During"the"maintenance"dredging"of" the"LNG"terminal"channel"in" 2002," approximately" 2.74"million"cubic"
meters"of"dredge"spoil"was"disposed"in"the"offshore"disposal"site"off"La"Brea." "To"determine"the"extent"of"
the"sediment"plume"generated"by"the"disposal"of" the"dredge"material"at"the"offshore"site"and"the"way"in"
which"the"dredge"spoil"will"seHle,"six" sources "(shown"in"Figure"14)" were"used"to" study" the" dispersion"of"
sediments"in"the"region"of" the"proposed"disposal"site"(carried"out"in"the"2002"modelling"exercise)." "Figure"
15"below"shows"the"locaFon"of" the"dumpsite"used"in"the"model"and"the"model"boundaries"used"to"input"
effects"of"wind,"current"and"waves"in"the"area.
Figure"15"below"shows"the"model"dispersion"of"sediment"from"the"disposal"site.""The"material"is"disposed"as"
a"pulse"at"alternaFng"sites"within"the"disposal"area.""The"material"does"not"move"further"than"a"distance"of"
approximately"1km"from"the"site"based"on"the"results"of"the"mud"transport"modelling.""The"material"seHled"
to"the"seabed"in" a"flat" mound"shaped"formaFon"and"eventually"may" spread" evenly"over"the"seabed"with"
Fme.""Subsequent"maintenance"dredging"operaFons"can"be"expected"to"yield"slightly"greater"volumes"than"
were"used"for"the"modelling.""As"can"be"seen"from"the"model"output,"dredge"spoil"will"not"be"dispersed"at"a"
far"distance"from"the"source"primarily"because"of" very"low"sea"bed"currents"and"the"very"gentle"slope"on"
the" seabed" at" this" locaFon." In" addiFon," the" current" flow" at" disposal" site" locaFon" is" parallel" to" the"
bathymetric" contours" and" generally" run" along" the" NE" –" SW" axis" and" so" there" will" not" be" transport" of"
sediment" plume" towards" the" shoreline" as" well" as" the" LABIDCO" channel" and" turning" basin." UlFmately,"
possibiliFes"for"reUsuspension"of"sediment"are"very"low"at"the"site"for"operaFonal"condiFons,"based"on"all"
previous"modelling"exercises.""
Based"on"the"above"analysis,"the"potenFal"impact"of" the"disposal"acFviFes"with"respect"to"the"producFon"
of" sediment" plumes" and" distribuFon" of" sediment" outside" the" disposal" site" was" not" expected" to" be"
significant.

Figure"14:"Modelled"results"for"the"deposiFon"of"the"dredge"spoil"in"the"disposal"site"off" La"Brea,"showing"
Net"SedimentaFon"[Sample"dumps"nearer" the"shoreline"are"more"aligned"to"the"Fdal"flow"axis"(NEU
SW)]
Figure"15:" Disposal"of" dredge"spoil"at"La"Brea"Disposal"Site."The"model"was"run"using" the"effects"of" wind,"

current"and"waves"on"the"hydrodynamics

Figure"16:" Dispersion"of" sediment"from"disposal"site."The"volume"disposed"of" is "based"on"a"load"equal"to"

1350"m3"with"an"average"dry"density"of"500kg/m3
Hydrocarbon]contaminated(run]off
The" condiFon" on" the" CEC" related" to" this"states" the" hydrocarbonUcontaminated" runUoff" from" the"dredge"
vessel" shall" be" treated" to" ensure" a " maximum" discharge" concentraFon" of" 40mg/L" Total" Petroleum"
Hydrocarbons" (TPH)" in" accordance" with" the" Second" Schedule" of" the" Water" PolluFon" Rules" 2001" (as"
amended)"(WPR)."Effluent"from"the"vessel"that"may"contain"oily"material"shall"be"sampled"and"analysed"for"
TPH"at"least"once"during" the"proposed"acFvity."This "report"shall"be"made"available"to"the"Environmental"
Management"Agency"for"review"upon"request.
The" potenFal" sources" of" this" hydrocarbonUcontaminated" run" off" will" include" lube" oil" and" FO" purifiers,"
engine"and"machinery"oil"changes,"engine"cylinder"oil"drains,"main"engine"lube"and"FO"system"leak"offs."The"
controls"to" miFgate"the"risk" of" hydrocarbonUcontaminated" run"of" include" preventaFve"maintenance" and"
daily"inspecFons"of" machinery"and"equipment"would"minimise"releases."All"acFviFes"conducted"on"board"
shall"be"planned"and"controlled"to"minimise"releases."There"shall"be"no"hydrocarbonUcontaminated"runUoff"
from"dredge"vessel."
Any"sludge"and"or"oily"water"from"maintenance"acFviFes"will"be"stored"temporarily" in"tanks"on"board"the"
vessel."The"dredge"operator"will"arrange"for"the"sludge/oily"water"to"be"pumped"off"the"vessel"into"a"slop"
barge"or"truck" at"the"LABIDCO" Port"pending"disposal"at"an"approved" facility."All"operaFons"involving" and"

movements"of" hydrocarbons"shall"be"recorded"in"the"Oil"Record"Book"for"Ships"including"details"such"as"
quanFty"and"the"vessel’s"posiFon.
Noise(and(Vibra5on
The"CerFficate"of"Environmental"Clearance"will"state"its"condiFons"with"regard"to"noise."These"will"typically"
be" that" pursuant" to" the" Noise"PolluFon" Control"Rules," if" dredging" acFviFes" occur" outside"the" hours"of"
0700hrs"and"1900hrs"of" any" day"and"in"the"event" that"noise"levels"are"expected"to"exceed"the"standards"
specified" in" the" Noise" PolluFon" Control"Rules," the"applicant" shall"apply" for" and" obtain"a "Noise" VariaFon"
from"the"Environment"Management"Agency"before"proceeding"with"site"acFviFes.
Sewage
The"discharge"of" sewage" into"the"sea"is "prohibited,"except" when" the" ship" has"in"operaFon" an" approved"
sewage"treatment"plant"or"is "discharging"comminute"and"disinfected"sewage"using"an"approved"system"at"a"
distance"of"more"than"5.6km"(three"nauFcal"miles)" from"the"nearest"land."An"approved"on"board"sewage"
treatment"plant"shall"meet"the"standards"and"tests"outlined"in"the"revised"Guidelines"on"ImplementaFon"of"
Effluent"Standards"and"Performance"Test"for"Sewage"Treatment"Plants,"the"Marine"Environment"ProtecFon"
CommiHee"(MEPC),"October"13,"2006
MARPOL(73/78
Parameter Resolu5on(MEPC.2(VI) Resolu5on(MEPC.159(55)
3(Dec(1976 13(Oct(2006
Faecal"Coliform 250/100ml 100/100ml
Total"Suspended"Solids 50"mg/l"(on"shore) 35"mg/l"(on"shore)
Biochemical"Oxygen"Demand" 50"mg/l 25"mg/l

Waste(Matrix
Waste(Stream Recommenda5on L e g i s l a 5 v e(Evidence(of(comple5on

Requirements
Non" Hazardous" Solid"K e e p" r e c y c l a b l e s"MARPOL"Annex"V" D r e d g e r ’ s" G a r b a g e"
W a s t e" ( p a c k a g i n g"(cardboard," plasFc" boHles,"C E C 2 6 7 3 / 2 0 0 9"Record"Book
materials," containers,"glass" boHles," aluminium"SecFon"ii"(n)
liHer," food" containers,"cans," paper)" in" separate"
beverage" cans," coffee"b a g s" a n d" p l a c e" i n"
c u p s ," p a p e r" b a g s ,"designated" skip" " pending"
rubber," wood," steel,"transfer" to" designated"
scrap" metals," pipes,"receptacle" on" the" port"
electrical"cusngs,"nonU facility."Other"waste"should"
h a z a r d o u s " p a r t s ,"be" kept" separated" and"
Styrofoam) placed"in"designated"skip"in"
an"appropriate"locaFon.
C h e m i c a l s / M e d i c a l"C o l l e c t" w a s t e" i n"C E C 2 6 7 3 / 2 0 0 9"Disposal/DestrucFon"

Waste compaFble," sturdy," leak"SecFon"ii"(p) CerFficate"from"disposal"
proof" containers" with"MARPOL" Annex"facility
secure," leak" proof" lids" to"11
ensure" no" leakage" of"
contents." Chemical" waste"
containers"must" be" clearly"
labelled" with" complete"
c h e m i c a l" n a m e s ." T h e"
dredging" contractor" " shall"
d i s p o s e" o f" w a s t e" a s"
prescribed" in" MSDS." Note"
this"waste"type"shall"not"be"
incorporated" into" the"
general"waste"stream"in"an"
appropriate"locaFon.

Oily" Waste" including"All" visible" dirt," grime,"C E C 2 6 7 3 / 2 0 0 9"T h e" d r e d g e r ’ s" O i l"
spent" lubricants," used"grease," oil," loose" paint,"SecFon"ii"(j) Record"Book
oils,"sludge etc.," would" be" removed"MARPOL"Annex"1
from" the" equipment" prior"
to" use" at" the" site." All"
acFviFes" conducted" on"
board"shall"be"planned"and"
controlled." The" dredging"
contractor" will" arrange" for"
the"sludge/oily"water"to"be"
pumped"off"vessel"to"a"slop"
barge" in" an" appropriate"
locaFon" pending" disposal"
at"an"approved"facility.

Ballast"Water" Ballast" water" shall" be"C E C 2 6 7 3 / 2 0 0 9"The" dredger’s" Ballast"

disposed" of" as" per" IMO"SecFon"ii"(o) water"record"book
g u i d e l i n e s ." E x c h a n g e"IMO
should" be" done" prior" to"
coming" in" channel." No"
exchange" of" ballast" water"
s h o u l d" b e" c o n d u c t e d"
within" close" proximity" to"
channel
W h e n e v e r" p o s s i b l e ,"
conduct" ballast" water"
exchange" at" least" 200"
nauFcal" miles" from" the"
nearest" land" and" in" water"
at" least" 200" metres" in"
depth," taking" into" account"
Guidelines" developed" by"
IMO;"
In" cases"where" the"ship" is"
unable" to" conduct" ballast"
water" exchange" as" above,"
this" should" be"as"far" from"
t h e" n e a r e s t" l a n d" a s"
possible,"and"in"all"cases"at"
least" 50" nauFcal" miles"
from" the" nearest" land" and"
in" water" at" least" 200"
metres"in"depth."

Sewage Sewage"can" be" treated" on"MARPOL" Annex"CerFficaFon" of" Sewage"

board" using" an" approved"IV" Treatment"Plant.
sewage" treatment" plant"C E C 2 6 7 3 / 2 0 0 9"Dredging" contractor’s"
that" would" meet" the"SecFon"ii"(q) o p e r a F n g" a n d"
specified" requirements." maintenance" program"
Where"this"cannot"be"done" records
sewage" can" be" collected"
from" the" ship" with" a"
mobile" vacuum" tanker" (or"
barge)"and"diverted"to"land"
t o" b e" t r e a t e d" b y" a n"
approved"facility.
Grey"water G r e y" w a t e r" s h a l l" b e"C E C 2 6 7 3 / 2 0 0 9"Same"as"sewage
diverted" to" the" sewage"SecFon"ii"(r)
treatment" plant" before"
disposal."
Dewatered" Large" Solid"Collect"from"the"vessel"and"C E C 2 6 7 3 / 2 0 0 9"Disposal/DestrucFon"
Waste p l a c e" i n" d e s i g n a t e d"SecFon"ii"(s) CerFficate"from"disposal"
container" at" recepFon" facility
facility"pending" disposal"at"
an"approved"landfill
Dredge"Spoil D i s p o s e d" o f" a t" t h e"C E C 2 6 7 3 / 2 0 0 9"NA"
designated" disposal" site"SecFon"ii"(t)
offshore
Noise Tools," machinery" and"C E C 2 6 7 3 / 2 0 0 9"Noise" measurement"
equipment" employed" for"SecFon"ii"(i) Report
all" works" shall" be" fiHed"
w i t h" a d e q u a t e" n o i s e"
reducing" apparatus." Noise"
measurements" will" be"
taken" at" the" start" of" and"
d u r i n g" t h e" p r o j e c t"
acFviFes.
Air C o n d u c t" r e g u l a r"C E C 2 6 7 3 / 2 0 0 9"P o r t ’ s " I n s p e c F o n"
inspecFons" and" maintain"SecFon"ii"(h) checklist
all" equipment" used" during"
t h e" a c F v i t y" t o"
m a n u f a c t u r e r s ’"
specificaFons"
9:(CONCLUSIONS
The"Port"PracFFoner"will"be"the"person"who"will"most"likely"have"to"explain"dredging" to"environmentalists"
and" explain" environmental" concerns" to" port" management." " The" Port" PracFFoner" will" have" display" his"
principals’"sensiFvity"to"environmental"issues"and"at"the"same"Fme"return"his"port"to"normal"operaFons"as"
safely,"efficiently"and"cost"effecFvely"as"possible.
It"is"in"the"Port"PracFFoner’s"interest"to"have"a"working"knowledge"of"all"sides"of"this"operaFon.

APPENDICES
A.1(Types(of(Dredging
A.1.1)Capital)Dredging
This"is"dredging" carried"out"to"create"a"new"harbour,"berth"or"waterway,"or"to"deepen"exisFng"faciliFes"in"
order" to" allow" larger" ships"access." Because" capital" works "usually" involve"hard" material"or" highUvolume"
works,"the"work"is "usually" done"using" a"cuHer"sucFon"dredge"or"large"trailing"sucFon"hopper"dredge,"but"
for"rock"works"drilling"and"blasFng"along"with"mechanical"excavaFon"may"be"used."
A.1.2)Preparatory)Dredging
This"is"work"and" excavaFon"for"future"bridges,"piers "or" docks/wharves,"onen" connected" with"foundaFon"

work."
A.1.3)Maintenance)Dredging
This"is"dredging" to"deepen"or"maintain"navigable"waterways"or"channels"which"are"threatened"to"become"
silted"with"the"passage"of" Fme," due" to" sediment" sand" and" mud," possibly" making" them" too" shallow" for"
navigaFon."This"is"onen"carried"out"with"a"trailing"sucFon"hopper"dredge."Most"dredging"is"for"this"purpose,"
and"it"may"also"be"done"to"maintain"the"holding"capacity"of"reservoirs"or"lakes."This"is"the"type"of"dredging"
this"thesis"is"focussed"on."
A.1.4)Land)reclama;on
This"is"dredging"to"mine"sand,"clay"or"rock"from"the"seabed"and"using"it"to"construct"new"land"elsewhere."
This"is"typically"performed"by"a"cuHerUsucFon"dredge"or"trailing"sucFon"hopper"dredge."The"material"may"
also"be"used"for"flood"or"erosion"control."
A.1.5)Beach)nourishment)
This"is"the"mining"of"sand"offshore"and"placing"on"a"beach"to"replace"sand"eroded"by"storms"or"wave"acFon."
This"is"done"to" enhance"the"recreaFonal"and"protecFve"funcFon"of"the"beaches,"which" can"be"eroded"by"
human" acFvity" or" by" storms." This" is" typically" performed" by" a" cuHerUsucFon" dredge" or" trailing" sucFon"
hopper"dredge."
A.1.6)Harves;ng)materials
This"is"dredging"sediment"for"elements"like"gold"or"other"valuable"trace"substances."
A.1.7)Seabed)mining
A"possible"future"use"of"dredging,"recovering"natural"metal"ore"nodules"from"the"sea's"abyssal"plains."

A.1.8)Construc;on)materials
This"is" the" dredging" of" sand" and" gravels" from" offshore" licensed" areas "for" use" in" construcFon" industry,"
principally" for" use" in" concrete."This"is"a" very" specialist" industry" focused" in" NW" Europe"using" specialized"
trailing"sucFon"hopper"dredgers"self"discharging"dry"cargo"ashore."
A.1.9)An;Oeutrophica;on)
Dredging" is" an" expensive" opFon" for" the" remediaFon" of" eutrophied" (or" deUoxygenated)" water" bodies."
However,"as"arFficially"elevated"phosphorus"levels"in"the"sediment"aggravate"the"eutrophicaFon" process,"
controlled"sediment"removal"is"occasionally"the"only"opFon"for"the"reclamaFon"of"sFll"waters."
A.1.10)Contaminant)remedia;on
This"is"done"to"reclaim"areas "affected"by"chemical"spills,"storm"water"surges"(with"urban"runoff),"and"other"
soil"contaminaFons."Disposal"becomes"a"proporFonally"large"factor"in"these"operaFons."
A.1.11)Removing)trash)and)debris)
This"is "onen" done" in" combinaFon"with" maintenance" dredging," this"process" removes"nonUnatural"maHer"

from"the"boHoms"of"rivers"and"canals"and"harbors.
A.2(Types(of(Dredging(Vessels
A.2.1)Grab)Dredger
This"type"of"dredger"uses"a"clamshell"bucket"aHached"to"a "crane"on"the"vessel"to"dig"and"remove"sediment"
from"the"sea"floor." The"clamshell"bucket" is"opened"and"lowered"down" to"the"sea "floor."The"sides"of" the"
bucket"close,"grabbing" sediment"on"the"sea"floor."The"bucket"is"lined"and"empFed"into"the"barge"moored"
alongside"the"dredger.
A" grab"dredger"picks"up"seabed"material"with"a"clam"shell"grab,"which" hangs "from"an"onboard"crane"or"a"
crane"ship,"or"is "carried"by"a"hydraulic"arm,"or"is"mounted"like"on"a"dragline."This"technique"is"onen"used"in"
excavaFon"of"bay"mud."Most"of"these"dredges"are"crane"barges"with"spuds.
A.2.2)Trailing)Suc;on)Hopper)Dredger
A"TSHD"is"a"seaUgoing"selfUpropelled"vessel"equipped"with"one"or"two"sucFon"pipes,"designed"to"trail"along"
the"side"of"the"vessel.""At"the"lower"end"of"the"sucFon"pipe,"a"drag"head"is"fixed.""SucFon"is"" p r o v i d e d"
by"a "centrifugal"pump,"which"discharges"the"mixture"of"soil"and"water"in"the"hopper"well"of"the"dredge."To"
start" the"dredging" operaFons," the" TSHD" will" sail" to" the" area" to" be"dredged." Once"in" the"vicinity" of" its"
dredging"area,"the"TSHD"will"lower"the"drag"head"to"the"sea"boHom"and"begin"dredging."The"dredge"pump,"
installed"inside"the"dredge"takes "up"a "mixture"of"water"and"soil"through"the"drag"head"and"sucFon"pipe"and"
pumps"the"mixture"into"the"hopper"well."When"the"draught"of"the"vessel"reaches"its"limit,"dredging"will"be"
stopped"and"the"sucFon"pipe"hoisted"on"deck."The"vessel"then"sails"with"the"dredge"spoil"to"the"offshore"

disposal"area,"where"the"load"is "deposited"by"opening"the"boHom"doors.""" Once" empty," the" vessel"

returns"to"the"dredging"area.
A" trailing" sucFon" hopper" dredger" (TSHD)" trails"its"sucFon" pipe"when"working,"and"loads"the"dredge"spoil"
into"one"or" more"hoppers"in"the"vessel."When"the"hoppers"are"full,"the"TSHD"sails"to"a"disposal"area"and"
either" dumps" the" material" through" doors" in" the" hull" or" pumps" the" material" out" of" the" hoppers." Some"
dredges"also"selfUoffload"using"drag"buckets"and"conveyors.
A.2.3)Suc;on)Dredger
These"operate"by"sucking"through"a"long"tube,"like"some"vacuum"cleaners"but"on"a"big"scale."A"plain"sucFon"
dredger"has"no"tool"at"the"end"of"the"sucFon"pipe"to"disturb"the"material."This"is"onen"the"most"commonly"
used"form"of"dredging.
A.2.4)CuSer)Suc;on)Dredger
A"cuHerUsucFon"dredger's"(CSD)"sucFon"tube"has"a"cuHer"head"at"the"sucFon"inlet,"to"loosen"the"earth"and"
transport"it"to"the"sucFon"mouth."The"cuHer"can"also"be"used"for"hard"surface"materials"like"gravel"or"rock."
The"dredged"soil"is"usually"sucked"up"by"a"wearUresistant"centrifugal"pump"and"discharged"through"a "pipe"
line"or"to"a"barge."In"recent"years,"dredgers"with"more"powerful"cuHers "have"been"built"in"order"to"excavate"
harder"rock"without"blasFng.
A.2.5)Auger)Suc;on
This"process"funcFons "like"a "cuHer"sucFon"dredger,"but"the"cusng"tool"is"a"rotaFng"Archimedean"screw"set"

at"right"angles"to"the"sucFon"pipe.
A.2.6)Jet)LiU
These" use" the" Venturi" effect" of" a" concentrated" highUspeed" stream" of" water" to" pull" the" nearby" water,"
together"with"bed"material,"into"a"pipe.
A.2.7)Air)LiU
An"airlin"is"a"type"of"small"sucFon"dredge."It"is"someFmes"used"like"other"dredges."At"other"Fmes,"an"airlin"
is "used,"handheld"underwater"by" a"diver."It"works "by"blowing"air"into"the"pipe," and"that"air,"being" lighter"
than"water,"rises"inside"the"pipe,"dragging"water"with"it.
A.2.8)Bucket)dredging
A"bucket"dredger"is "equipped"with"a"bucket"dredge,"which"is "a"device"that"picks"up"sediment"by"mechanical"

means,"onen"with"many"circulaFng"buckets"aHached"to"a"wheel"or"chain."Some"bucket"dredgers"and"grab"
dredgers"are"powerful"enough"to"rip"out"coral"to"make"a"shipping"channel"through"coral"reefs.

A.2.9)Backhoe/Dipper
A"backhoe/dipper"dredge"has"a"backhoe"like"on"some"excavators."A"crude"but"usable"backhoe"dredger"can"
be"made"by"mounFng"a"landUtype"backhoe"excavator"on"a"pontoon."Small"backhoe"dredgers"can"be"trackU
mounted" and"work"from" the"bank" of"ditches."A" backhoe"dredger"is"equipped" with"a"halfUopen"shell."The"
shell"is"filled" moving"towards"the"machine."Usually"dredges"material"is"loaded" in" barges."This"machine"is"
mainly"used"in"harbors"and"other"shallow"water.
A.2.10)Water)Injec;on
A"water"injecFon"dredger"uses"a"small"jet"to"inject"water"under"low"pressure"(to"prevent"the"sediment"from"
exploding" into" the"surrounding" waters)" into"the"seabed"to" bring"the"sediment"in"suspension," which" then"
becomes"a"turbidity"current,"which"flows"away"down"slope,"is"moved"by"a"second"burst"of" water"from"the"
WID"or"is"carried"away" in"natural"currents."Water"injecFon"results"in"a"lot"of" sediment"in"the"water"which"
makes"measurement"with"most"hydrographic"equipment"(for"instance:"singlebeam"echosounders)"difficult.
A.2.11)Pneuma;c
These"dredgers"use"a"chamber"with" inlets,"out"of" which"the"water"is"pumped"with"the"inlets"closed." It"is"

usually" suspended"from"a "crane"on" land" or"from"a "small" pontoon" or"barge."Its"effecFveness"depends"on"
depth"pressure.
A.2.12)Bed)leveler
This"is"a "bar"or" blade" which"is"pulled" over"the"seabed"behind"any" suitable"ship" or"boat."It" has"an" effect"

similar"to"that"of"a"bulldozer"on"land."In"Trinidad"and"Tobago"it"was"called"the"plough.
A.2.13)Amphibious
Some"of" these"are"any"of" the"above"types"of" dredger," which"can"operate"normally,"or"by"extending"legs,"

also"known"as"spuds,"so"it"stands"on"the"seabed"with"its"hull"out"of" the"water."Some"forms"can"go"on"land."
Some"of"these"are"landUtype"backhoe"excavators"whose"wheels"are"on"long"hinged"legs"so"it"can"drive"into"
shallow"water"and"keep"its"cab"out"of"water."Some"of"these"may"not"have"a"floatable"hull"and,"if"so,"cannot"
work"in"deep"water.
A.2.14)Submersible
These"are" usually" used"to" recover" useful" materials"from" the"seabed." Many" of" them" travel" on"caterpillar"
tracks."A"unique"variant"is"intended"to"walk"on"legs"on"the"seabed."

READING(LIST
Journals:
NaFonal" InsFtute" of" Water" and" Atmospheric" Research" Ltd," New" Zealand," Benthic" Offshore" Surveys" of"
Proposed"Dredge"Spoil"Disposal"Sites"off"Otago"Peninsula.
"
Internet(pages:
hHp://www.dredging.org/documents/ceda/downloads/environmentUhelcomUdmguidelines.pdf
hHp://marinemanagement.org.uk/works/documents/environmental_statements/falmouth.pdf
hHp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dredging
hHp://www.htgUbaggergut.de/Downloads/guide_rec13_1.pdf
hHp://www.cses.vt.edu/revegetaFon/dredge.html
hHp://www.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au/
hHp://www.newsday.co.H/features/
hHp://www.teebweb.org/
hHp://www.imo.org/OurWork/Environment/BallastWaterManagement/
hHp://www.siue.edu/artsandsciences/pdf/deanspublicaFons/406.EnvironHistMarMammTrinidad.pdf
hHp://www.gsH.org/Geology/recent%20sediments.htm

ISBN 978-976-95675-1-1
www.spreespirit.co.tt

Dredging in Trinidad and Tobago. Environmental Considerations For Ports

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Dredging in Trinidad and Tobago.

Environmental Considerations for Ports

Dredging in Trinidad and Tobago.

Published by Spree Spirit 2014 Trinidad & Tobago ! 1

Published by Spree Spirit 2014 Trinidad & Tobago ! 2

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As" shipyards"started" launching" ‘larger’" oil" tankers"post" World"War" II,"coastal" naFons"became"concerned"

Published by Spree Spirit 2014 Trinidad & Tobago ! 1

Trinidad" and" Tobago" conforms"with" the"world’s"usage" of" coastal" zones"on" one"coast."Coastal"zones"are"

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many"such"organisms"are"permanently"aHached"to"the"boHom."The"superﬁcial"layer"of" the"soil"lining" the"

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A" water"column"is "a"conceptual"column"of" water"from" surface"to" boHom"sediments."This"concept"is "used"

Turbidity" is"degree"of"the"cloudiness"of" the"water"caused"by"parFcles"of"suspended"solids."The"individual"

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In"a"hopper"dredger,"the"dredged" materials"end" up"in"a"large"onboard" hold"called"a""hopper"."A" hopper"

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Site"selecFon"to"minimize"impact"on"commercial"and"recreaFonal"ﬁshing" areas "is "a"major"consideraFon"in"

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When"dredging" operaFons"are"intended,"the"scoping" would"recommend"preliminary"studies "to"determine"

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Figure"15:" Disposal"of" dredge"spoil"at"La"Brea"Disposal"Site."The"model"was"run"using" the"eﬀects"of" wind,"

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Figure"16:" Dispersion"of" sediment"from"disposal"site."The"volume"disposed"of" is "based"on"a"load"equal"to"

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Waste(Stream Recommenda5on L e g i s l a 5 v e(Evidence(of(comple5on

C h e m i c a l s / M e d i c a l"C o l l e c t" w a s t e" i n"C E C 2 6 7 3 / 2 0 0 9"Disposal/DestrucFon"

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Ballast"Water" Ballast" water" shall" be"C E C 2 6 7 3 / 2 0 0 9"The" dredger’s" Ballast"

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Sewage Sewage"can" be" treated" on"MARPOL" Annex"CerFﬁcaFon" of" Sewage"

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This"is"work"and" excavaFon"for"future"bridges,"piers "or" docks/wharves,"onen" connected" with"foundaFon"

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This"is "onen" done" in" combinaFon"with" maintenance" dredging," this"process" removes"nonUnatural"maHer"