The Ministry of Works has commenced dredging works for Phase 1 of the Bahrain Approach Channel.  The BD 11,404,420 project, which commenced on 1 November 2008, is expected to be completed by 31 October this year, on time and on budget.  Adherence to scheduling is integral to the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring value for money as well as to meeting the needs of the public and to providing high quality services.

The scope of work for this phase of the project includes dredging and disposing sand along the 65km-long and 256 metre-wide channel to a maximum depth of -15 metres CD.

Work also involves conducting bathymetric surveys (in-survey and out-survey), and lowering two communications cables which cross the channel to a depth of -19 metres CD spanning a length of 300 metres at each side of the channel centerline.  The drilling of 50 boreholes to a depth of -18 metres CD as well as all associated testing will also be undertaken.

The contractor for the project is Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company and the consultant is Royal Haskoning.