Channel Upgrade Project - Dredging Works by Backhoe Dredger

⁠⁠⁠Over the past 40 years ship sizes have grown significantly and are continuing to get bigger. Townsville’s channel has not kept up with this growth and is approximately half the width of access channels at other major ports.

By widening the channel from 92 metres at the narrowest point to 180 metres, the size of ships that can access Townsville will increase from 238 metres to more than 300 metres. By widening the channel to give larger ships access, existing berths will be used more, our economy will grow and there will be an increasing demand for more berths.

Channel widening will provide the safest, most cost effective and environmentally sustainable solution for meeting the freight and supply chain requirements of North Queensland.

To complete the Project, and to provide the best environmental outcomes for Cleveland Bay, a significant portion of the capital dredging will need to be carried out using a mechanical dredge, with solid and compact material removed from the seabed and transported by barge to the port reclamation area. In summary, the Principal envisages that:
* the contractor will supply and operate a mechanical dredge to dig out the required fill, which will be placed into hoppers (supplied by the contractor) and transported by barge (also supplied by the contractor) to a temporary jetty (supplied by the Principal);
* the contractor will supply and operate a digger on the temporary jetty to unload the hoppers into trucks supplied by the Principal; and
* the Principal (either directly or through a separate contractor) will transport the fill from the jetty by truck to the port reclamation area.

The Principal’s preference is for a contractor to fully complete this Project (save for matters noted above to be supplied the Principal) by supplying all labour, plant and equipment (including a mechanical dredge, a tug, one or more barges and at least 3 hoppers).

This Request for Tender seeks Tenders for the dredging works by backhoe dredger required to complete the Project on a “turnkey basis”.

The Principal anticipates that the dredging works will not commence before May 2020.