Channel Deepening Project overview

The Channel Deepening Project was the most complex marine infrastructure development in the 150-year history of the Port of Melbourne.

Successfully, completed on 25 November 2009, the project has given  the Port of Melbourne shipping channels 14 metres draught (without tidal assistance). This has opened the ‘sea highway’ to Melbourne for the next 30 years and consolidates Melbourne’s status as Australia’s premier container port.

Dredging started on 8 February 2008 and more than 22 million cubic metres of sand and silt were removed from existing channels - an area equal to approximately 1% of Port Phillip Bay.

Environmental monitoring activities will continue for several years after the end of the project to help protect the Port Phillip Bay ecosystems.

            View the As-built Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge dredging schedule  (PDF, 335 kb)