Peel Ports renews Heysham dredging contract

Peel Ports is looking for contractors to dredge its Port of Heysham near Lancaster.

According to a tender document the Liverpool-based arm of the Peel Group wants to clear an area of around 36,000 cubic metres at the North Quay and dump the silt at sea.

"Recent surveys of the harbour indicated that levels of silt adjacent to the North Quay have built up and compromise vessel access and that dredging is required to improve the berth availability," said the company.

Heysham is one of the main freight links with Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. Figures from the Department for Transport show that in the first half of 2011 Heysham Port handled more than 225,000 units, a 45,000 unit rise compared with the same period in 2010.

Peel took control of the port in 2005 after acquiring its owner the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company. Mersey Docks bought Heysham in 2001.

The deadline for expressions of interest is 22 January.