Dredging Program
Port of Melbourne has ongoing dredging obligations to ensure the safe passage of ships visiting the port.
Dredging has been routinely conducted in Port Phillip and the port area for over 100 years to maintain the declared channel depths and allow the safe navigation of vessels and the efficient transport of cargo.
Each year approx. 2,600 ships visit the Port and larger vessels require greater draught. This means the distance between the bottom of the vessels’ hull and seabed need to accommodate the biggest ships.
95,000 hectares of Port waters are managed by the Port of Melbourne with 52km of shipping channels requiring dredging every two years.
2026
From early March, Port of Melbourne will commence a short sweeping program within key areas of the South Channel and Port Melbourne Channel. The works will be carried out using the sweep tug Molly Grace and will target selected sections of the channels to ensure safe operation.
Sweeping activities will be planned around shipping operations to avoid impacts on port services. Works will occur daily between 6:00am and 6:00pm, excluding weekends to minimise disruption and maintain safety for recreational users.
Timeframes may adjust subject to conditions.
2025
From mid-April to mid-May 2025, Port of Melbourne undertook dredging and sweeping works in and around the Southern and Northern areas of Port Phillip Bay.
Routine dredging works ensure that the declared depth at, and in the vicinity of, berths and channels in the Port of Melbourne
are maintained for the safe operation of shipping.
Activity was carried out by our contractors Boskalis Australia Pty Ltd and Polaris Marine Pty Ltd in the following areas of the port:
- South Channel
- Appleton Dock
- Swanson Dock
- South Wharf
- Maribyrnong
- Yarra River Channel
- Webb Dock
- Gellibrand Pier swing basin
- Williamstown Channel
- Western By-Pass Channel
- Eastern By-Pass Channel
The Notice to Mariners for the works can be found here.
To download the project’s Environmental Management Plan (EMP) Click here.
For more information call 1300 857 662 or email community@portofmelbourne.com