1. Identifying the need for maintenance dredging: where, when and how to maintain the depths of a shipping channel

Before going into detail about the dredging process, it is worth recalling the factors that influence the dredging strategy and the way in which the needs of navigation are met. In particular:

• tidal conditions and variations in sea level;

• physical properties and variations of the channel bottom ;

• the maximum characteristics of the vessels to be accommodated.

One of the engineer's first tasks is to define and check, in close liaison and consultation with the harbour master's office and/or pilotage (depending on the organization), the depth of the access channels, taking into account the need to reserve a minimum margin between the lowest point of the ship and the bottom of the channel, known as the "pilot's foot".

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