The Port of Aberdeen has awarded a three-year maintenance dredging contract to Boskalis Westminster, covering annual campaigns across its North Harbour and recently expanded South Harbour from 2026 to 2028.
The agreement includes trailing suction hopper dredging and bed levelling to maintain required depths across berths and navigation channels, ensuring the port remains safe and accessible for vessels up to 300 metres in length.
“The storms earlier this year deposited significant volumes of material into the port, and our survey team has been working hard to assess the impact and prepare for this year’s campaign,” explained John Wilson, head of engineering, Port of Aberdeen.
“Boskalis know the port well and we’ve been working closely with their team to ensure a safe and successful dredge in 2026 and beyond.”
Boskalis will deploy its Freeway trailing suction hopper dredger alongside the MTS Valour bed levelling vessel for the 2026 campaign, which is scheduled to begin this month. All works will be undertaken in line with the Marine Directorate licence.
The dredging programme plays a key role in supporting the port’s expanded footprint, including the South Harbour development – a major infrastructure project that has significantly increased capacity for large vessels, offshore wind activity and energy transition work.
The port’s in-house survey team continues to carry out year-round hydrographic monitoring to track sediment build-up. Pre-campaign bathymetric surveys are used to calculate dredging volumes and inform planning and cost estimates, while interim surveys guide progress throughout operations.
“We are excited to be back in the Port of Aberdeen having last worked here several years ago,” said Paul M. de Jong, managing director of Boskalis Westminster.
“Our collaboration with the Port of Aberdeen has always been excellent and we are looking forward to continuing that cooperation again in the build-up to the 2026 campaign.”
