DREDGING ADVANCES IN CHILE’S VALDIVIA CITY RIVERS

Dredging at Chilean Calle Calle Cau Cau and Cruces Rivers is reaching its final phase as the project reaches an 85 percent completion rate according to local media. Built in 1987 the country-owned dredge Ernesto Pinto Lagarrigue extracted at least 217000 cubic meters (283825 cubic yards) of sediments with some more 45000 cubic meters (58858 cubic yards) to be extracted by other smaller supporting dredges the country’s Ministry of Public Works (MOP) said. As dredging at the rivers surrounding Valdivia City advances MOP expects the depth of those rivers to reach 4.5 meters (14.8 feet) for larger vessels. The local government also expects the project to improve the navigability from Valdivia to the commune and sea port of Corral.