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 silt and what we do with it

When areas of the harbor have become too shallow due to silting, we restore the necessary depth for ship traffic. To do this, the silt is inspected and dredged. Most of it is relocated within the water. A small portion must be processed and disposed of on land.

A person on a boat uses a spatula to fill silt from a storage area into a white bucket. Water from which the silt originates can be seen next to it.
We take extensive sediment samples before dredging. We therefore know our silt 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 were defined that precisely specify whether sediments can remain in the water or must be treated on land.

Relocation and recycling of 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 silt and sand from the Elbe's navigation channels and harbor basins if they reduce the water depth too much. But what happens to the several million tons 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 disposal 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 seal in landfill sites instead of clay or loam. 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 dredged material landfills in Hamburg. We use modern construction technology to prepare the surfaces of these landfills so that public green spaces or other usable 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 silt 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 silt. 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 dredging operations and have them tested 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 dredging sites ensures that our dredged material poses no long-term risk.

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Find out more in our We make port video!

FAQ on the topic of silt and siltation

The most important questions and answers at a glance.

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Before dredging operations, extensive sediment samples are taken and analyzed for over 40 substances in certified laboratories. Scientifically defined standards determine whether the dredged material can remain in the water or must be treated and disposed of on land.

 

 

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

 

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