PORT authority has announced new technology that will make pumping discharge into the sea a ‘cleaner and cheaper’ process.

Agitation dredging consists of pumping discharge directly into the sea and using the tide to carry the waste into deeper water areas.

Harwich Haven Authority is bringing its agitation dredging new solution, Tiamat, through a new subsidiary, Haven Dredging Ltd. which is also owned by the authority.

Sarah West, CEO of Harwich Haven Authority, said: “We are excited to be launching Tiamat after decades of research and field testing that has been put into creating a more efficient method of maintenance dredging.

“We are confident Tiamat will deliver a more sustainable and much more effective method of dredging for port authorities and dredging companies across the globe.”

“We are committed to working with nature, for nature.”

Tiamat’s technology offers lower maintenance dredging costs and is a cleaner process compared to traditional methods.

It is adaptable and easy to deploy, meaning it will be suitable for port authorities and harbour engineers worldwide.

As a unit, Tiamat can be towed by a relatively small work vessel and consists of a frame carrying two pumps.

One pump is used to inject water into the sediment on the harbour bed, whilst the second pump extracts diluted silt and pumps it up a flume, from where it is released into the water column.

The silt can be relocated either on a flood tide or washed out of the harbour on an ebb tide through the natural tidal currents.

Jack Storey, CFO at Harwich Haven Authority, added: “In the long term, Tiamat aims to not only build awareness around environmental issues from traditional dredging methods in the port and dredging community, but also to provide businesses with 

the opportunity to choose a responsible, sustainable, and economical method of dredging.

“With the race on to achieve net zero by 2050, incorporating Tiamat into dredging programmes helps support businesses’ carbon reduction programmes.”

For more information on Tiamat visit bit.ly/3Kqz3Sf to watch an explainer video.