Sustainability considerations increasingly important in dredging

In mid-June, representatives from earthresQue partners the Norwegian Coastal Administration, Borg Harbor, and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences attended the annual conference. Workshop on Dredging and Surveying gathers professionals involved in port operations, dredging, surveying, and research activities from across Europe.

The theme of this year's conference was circularity. Ph. D. Scholar Anders Gunnar Helle (earthresQue/NMBU) presented the Borg Harbor case study, highlighting the potential for circularity in dredging projects. His presentation focused on acquiring knowledge and exploring the reuse of sediments for wetland restoration, as well as treating sediments for incorporation into new products, offering an alternative to landfill disposal.

Nature Restoration in Dredging Projects

"We believe showcasing the work we are doing in the earthresQue project through the case study from Borg Harbor was valuable and interesting for the attendees. Our work aligned perfectly with this year’s program and the purpose of the gathering, where the overarching theme of circularity was discussed," says Henrik Langseth Kristoffersen, environmental advisor at the Norwegian Coastal Administration.

Using the case study from the dredging at Borg Harbor as a basis, Anders Gunnar Helle presented some of the work done in earthresQue related to the planned dredging. The focus of the presentation was on integrating nature restoration into dredging projects, as well as the challenges of nature restoration in Norway compared to the rest of Europe.

He also explained how, through decontamination and fractioning of materials at the soil washing facility of AF Decom at Nes Environmental Park, we replace virgin materials by reusing and developing new products from dredged sediments.

Some Ecosystems are More "Circular"

"We discussed the process of integrating wetland restoration into the dredging project at Borg Harbor, based on the 2023 report. We emphasized the importance of evaluating ecosystems' ability to recover after an intervention and the time required to restore them when planning nature restoration," says Anders Gunnar Helle.

"Some ecosystems are more 'circular' than others—in other words, some ecosystems can be restored more quickly," Helle adds.

"The time it takes to restore an ecosystem should determine what we allow ourselves to degrade and what we prioritize for restoration. These are critical considerations that were made during the preparatory work for planning wetland restoration at Borg Harbor, and we were able to share these insights with the audience."

"Environmental issues and sustainability have become an increasingly important part of dredging and surveying work. More and more professionals involved in the operation and maintenance of critical ports and waterways, such as marine navigation channels and inland canals, are concerned with these matters. Participating in this forum is valuable for the exchange of experiences among experienced professionals in Europe," says Charlotte Iversen, the environmental manager at Borg Harbor.

International Focus on the Environmental Aspect

Other projects sharing experiences related to sediment reuse were also presented at the conference, including examples from Bremen and Flanders. Bioremediation, the process in which microorganisms are utilized to remove unwanted chemical compounds from the environment, was tested by a French port with successful outcomes.

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