Dredging work is about to begin at the Port of Waterford with a maintenance dredging campaign to be carried out by a Dutch company.

Baggerbedrijf De Boer B.V.'s trailing suction hopper dredger Amazone is next week to conduct activities in the vicinity of Belview, Cheekpoint and further down in the estuary at the Duncannon Bar.

The campaign's main objective is the removal of accumulated sediment from the channels, turning areas and berths at (Belview) the main terminal at the Port of Waterford. This work will mostly involve work at the Cheekpoint lower bar and also at the Duncannon Bar.

The removed material will then be disposed by the 2771m3 hopper capacity dredger at an approved site beyond the estuary at a location south west of Hook Head.

It is expected that the campaign will take approximately 28 days and be followed by a bed levelling works by the Fastnet Sound which Afloat adds is a 21m MulitCat operated by a local firm Fastnet Shipping.

The marine plant and services company is based on the River Suir at Bilberry which is just westward of Waterford city's Rice lift-bridge.