West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Tuesday 26 February 1952, page 9


Dredges Work Long Hours At Albany ALBAM.Y, Mon.-Working two ten-hour shifts daily, the Australian Dredting Company, which has contracted to deepen a large area of the Albany harbour, is excavating? spoil at a ratei exceeding 11.000 cubic yards daily.

Silt dredged from the narbour, bed by the bucket dredger G.G.A. is loaded into hopper barges carrying nearly 50Oyds. which are towed to the suction dredger Beverwijk 33. moored beside the reclamation area. The silt, broken down by powerful jets of water, is then' pumped ashore, behind the sheet-piling retaimng wall. Work previously done by the dredger Sir James Mitchell had established a good foundation at the eastern end of the reclamation area, and since the contractors began work several weeks ago spoil has already been deposited over an area of several acres to the top of the retaining wall. The dredged material is main-, 'y white sand and shell For the time being work is being concentrated at the eastern end of the reclamation area, so that a start may be made as soon as possible with the construction of the bulk terminal for grain and the first stage of, the new 1.000ft. wharf. As this area is filled mn. reclamation will extend westward beyond the town ietty. which will ultimately be removed. To protect the reclaimed area against wave action. sandbank buttresses will be thrown up against the sheet piline and will be faced with about 50.000 tons of eranite spells. The stone will be drawn trom a new quarry soon to be opened near Albany. It will also supply crushed metal for concrete for vaious portions of the harbour works. The Sir James Mitchell. which is expected to leave Albany soon for Fremantle. is at present deepenina the channel enance to Princess Royal Harbour. When all dredging is comoleted the channel, inner an. -horage and harbour berths will have a uniform minimum depth of 34ft.