#ArklowHarbour - Arklow Harbour is set to have the final stage of dredging related works to be completed within the next fortnight, following last year's dredging as previously reported on Afloat.ie, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Work is to involve the capping of a pit spoil site offshore by UKD Orca, a trailing suction hopper dredger which arrived this afternoon from Liverpool's (Bootle) docks.

Afloat.ie has made inquiries to confirm that the work does not involve further dredging but is to cap contaminated spoil dredged from within the harbour early last summer.

It is understood the project then saw approximately 60,000 tonnes of spoil dredged from the port's channel, turning basin, and dock basin from where Asgard II, the brigantine was launched from the Tyrrell's yard in 1981.

A license to carry out the dredging last year was the first time such duties were performed in 15 years at the Co. Wicklow harbour. The works were carried out by Clare-based L&M Keating Ltd.

The contract costing €2.2m followed Wicklow County Council been granted a Foreshore Licence from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

As part of the conditions of the dredging contract, a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was issued to dump disposed spoil from the harbour at this designated pit out at sea.

On that occasion, the Sligo-registered Jenny T was tasked in dredging the spoil material to the pit site 1.5km north-east of the harbour's east pier.

The current operation by UKD Orca is expected to take 8-12 days and the 2000 built vessel is the most modern from a fleet of five vessels operated by UK Dredging, with a head office based in Cardiff.

The Dutch built 3,087 tonnes vessel is capable of dredging in confined spaces and is also designed for maintenance dredging.