Keeping On The Right Side Of Old Father Thames: Maintaining Safe Navigable Depths In The Thames Estuary
Type:
Presented during:
WODCON XVII: "Dredging in a Sensitive Environment" - 2004, Hamburg, Germany
Authors:
M Costaras and R N Bray
Abstract: This paper describes the management of the River Thames from the early days of the Port of London Authority to the present time. The Thames Estuary is an internationally important wildlife habitat as well as a commercial maritime thoroughfare leading to a variety of major and minor ports and jetties. The paper outlines the philosophy adopted to protect the sensitive characteristics of the former whilst allowing organic development of the latter. It also describes some investigations carried out to determine the effectiveness and effects of various dredging techniques, and touches upon changes to the well-established dredging practices that have been used in the Thames Estuary for many years.
Keywords: Thames, water injection, ploughing, beneficial use, re -cycling.