A label from the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) with the inscription "Ref 14-3_20" and the sample date "16/17/08/2014" can be seen on the jar
Under water

We know our mud and we know what to do with it

If areas of the harbour have become too shallow due to silting, we restore the necessary depth for shipping traffic. To do this, the mud is assessed and dredged. Most of it is relocated within the water. A small portion must be processed on land and disposed of.

A person on a boat uses a spatula to fill mud from a storage area into a white bucket. Next to it is water from which the mud comes.
We take extensive sediment samples before dredging. That's why we know our mud very well.
A person wearing blue gloves takes a silt sample from a white bucket with a stick and holds a sample container in the other hand.
For the quality check, scientifically derived standards and values have been defined that precisely specify whether sediments can remain in the water or must be treated on land.

Relocation and utilisation of the dredged material

Our statutory mandate is to ensure that ships can always reach or leave the Port of Hamburg safely and easily. To this end, we regularly remove excess sediments such as mud and sand if they reduce the water depth too much. But what happens to the several million tonnes of dredged material that are produced by regular dredging work throughout the year?

Over 95% of the dredged material can be disposed of at tested and suitable relocation sites in the Tidal Elbe or the North Sea and thus returned to the water. This makes sense, as the costs and use of resources are comparatively low. In addition, the dredged material consists of natural Elbe sediments, which are an important part of nature and should not be removed unnecessarily.

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One hand holds a small glass sample over an open portable measuring device (DR1900 photometer) for sediment analysis. The device shows a measured value on the display.
Certified laboratories test the sediment samples for over 40 different substances.

By treating the dredged material on land, we produce clean sand and fine-grained, cohesive material. The sand can be used as a building material, while the fine-grained material can be used as a landfill seal instead of clay. The material can also be used in dyke construction or in the construction industry as a raw material for ceramic production, for example, and can therefore be recycled. The rest of the treated dredged material is safely stored in the Francop or Feldhofe landfill sites in Hamburg. We use modern construction technology to prepare the surfaces of these landfills so that public green spaces or other utilisation areas can be created.
 

 

Quality check of the dredged material

Scientifically derived standards and values have been defined for the quality check, which specify exactly when the sediments are too polluted to remain in the water. The importance of mud in the ecological balance should not be underestimated, as it contains numerous nutrients and is a habitat for microorganisms, but can also bind pollutants. Mudflats, forelands and marshes are also made up of mud. If the specified values are adhered to, it is ensured that no unacceptable effects on the environment occur when the dredged material remains in the water and that all legal requirements for nature and species protection are met. We therefore take extensive sediment samples before the dredging operations and have them analysed for over 40 substances in certified laboratories. And we also take a close look after the relocation. Extensive regular testing of the bottom of the watercourse, the water, the fish and bottom-dwelling animals at and around the relocation sites ensures that our dredged material poses no long-term danger.

Find out more in our Port is what we do video!

FAQ about mud and siltation

The most important questions and answers at a glance.

 

Siltation occurs when sediments, i.e. mud and sand, accumulate in navigation channels or harbour basins to such an extent that the water depth is no longer sufficient for shipping traffic. In these cases, the mud is checked and dredged in a targeted manner.

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The majority of the mud is relocated to suitable relocation sites in the tidal Elbe or the North Sea after testing. A smaller proportion, which is contaminated, is treated and safely deposited on land.

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Extensive sediment samples are taken before dredging operations and analysed for over 40 substances in certified laboratories. Scientifically established standards determine whether the dredged material can remain in the water or must be treated and disposed of on land.

 

 

The importance of mud is manifold: it is an important component of the water, contains nutrients, is a habitat for microorganisms and a component of mudflats, foreshores and marshes. At the same time, mud can bind pollutants, which is why its use and relocation is subject to strict legal requirements.

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