Dredging work 'will bring economic benefits to Venice'

02 Mar 2010

Dredge pump hire may be set to play a part in proposed work on the port of Venice.

The Italian city's Port Authority wants to dredge Venice's port – a move that would allow Venice to accommodate ships longer than 400 metres, reports Dredging Today.

It is part of wider plans to make Venice a transport hub serving both Italy and other parts of Europe.

However, some local residents are concerned that such dredging work may destabilise the lagoon on which the city is built, as well as bringing in cruise ships that will push up tourist numbers and make life more expensive for permanent residents.

But Giovanna Benvenuti, a spokesperson for the Port Authority, defended the plans – noting that the dredging could actually have environmental benefits as polluted sediment will be removed.

She added that the local economy will be helped by an increase in the number of ships visiting the city.

Earlier this week, the European Union put out a tender for dredging work on stretches of the Danube in Serbia – work that may well involve dredge pump hire.

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