PHC Dredging

Dredging on the Estuary

Many estuaries throughout the country have a history of dredging to maintain navigable channels. The River Camel has a dredging operation that dates back centuries, and the operation continues to evolve as regular bathymetry surveys provide us with data to focus the dredging to maximise the impact of improving the navigable channel. In recent years PHC acquired the Sandsnipe trail suction hopper dredger from DGW and have taken on responsibility of ensuring clear waterways.

Padstow Harbour Commissioners (PHC) have powers contained in statutory legislation which enables them to deepen, widen, dredge, scour and improve the bed and foreshore of the Port and of the approaches to the Port, and in the course of such operations may use, sell, remove, deposit or otherwise dispose of the dredge material as they think fit. PHC also have a disposal licence which enables the disposal of 9,999 wet tonnes of dredged sediment at a spoil ground. This licence is used for the silt (mud) which builds up in the entrance to the harbour basin and inner quay.

Although permissions are contained in statutory legislation, the dredged sea sand material, belongs to the Duchy of Cornwall and because the sand is sold commercially, PHC were required to obtain further permissions to allow the sale of the product which includes a large percentage of revenue to be paid to the Duchy.

History of dredging on the estuary indicates the activity has been taking place for hundreds of years. Atkins 2022 Shoreline Evolution Report details that between 1836-79, hundreds of thousands of tonnes of sand were removed from the Doom Bar for soil improvement (and likely earlier).