Dredge pump hire may be required for a forthcoming beach replenishment project in the Algarve which is to be the largest in the region’s history.

A total of ?6 million (4.9 million) is to be spent on the project, which will see six beaches in the area take on extra sand.

The project is to take until the end of this year to finish, reports Dredging Today.

A spokesman for the Algarve Regional Hydrographical Board explained that the job entails the dredging of more than 1.25 million cubic metres of sand.

“The second largest operation of the kind was carried out in the 1960s on Praia da Rocha (Portimao) which involved 900,000 cubic metres of sand,” it was added.

Another project involving dredging which is set to take place in Portugal shortly is in Sines.

Tenders are being invited for a $32.5 million contract for the pier extension work, which is to involve the use of dredged material, reported Dredging News Online.