Dredging of the Port
The construction of a jetty in the 1960s, while calming the effect of ocean waves hitting the dock, had the unintended consequence of blocking the natural currents as well. This has led to an increase in the amount of sand that is trapped, turning this once deep water port into a shallow one. Vessels are at the mercy of the tides to determine when they can launch and return. The Port is the principal sponsoring agency for the US Army Corp of Engineers to maintain access channel to High Dock.Solutions
Dredging:
One solution to keeping this access channel maintained is dredging. Dredging is defined as the act of excavating bottom sediments and depositing or disposing of them elsewhere. The machinery used in Port Orford is a 'grab dredger'. This type is most often used in bays. It is characterized by a clam shell grab suspended from an onboard crane that then deposits the material into a hold. Tugboats then transport the hold to the designated disposal site and back to the excavation site.This process is repeated every year or two to keep the channel deep enough for vessels.