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Solutions for dredging in an ecologically sensitive environment - large-scale coral relocation in Jamaica

Presented during:

CEDA Dredging Days 2012 - Virtue, Venture and Vision in the Coastal Zone

Authors:

Kramer A and Rijks D - Hydronamic, the Netherlands

Abstract: Where in the past coral reefs were sacrificed and used as reclamation material, in the Falmouth Cruise Ship Terminal project a complete reef was relocated to a nearby location to mitigate the impact of the project. The magnitude of this coral relocation has made it potentially the largest reported coral relocation exercise in the world known to date. Almost 150.000 corals were relocated in a period of 8 months by a team of 93 people. The scale of the operation, which took place simultaneously with the dredging and reclamation activities needed for the development of the terminal and the strict requirements made it a complex activity. But the relocation was successful. Long term monitoring was conducted in order to determine the relocation success and showed good results. Some colonies were lost due to a storm but preliminary results show an unexpected high survival rate and a small number of colonies showing total colony mortality. The success of the relocation can be attributed to a close collaboration between expert scientists, client, contractors and regulators. Gained knowledge through the project resulted in the possibility to adjust the work method and improve efficiency and progress of the relocation. Contractor's in-house knowledge of ecosystems turned out to be vital to properly prepare the dredging works including mitigating and compensation measures and communicate with all parties.

The Falmouth Cruise Ship Terminal was initiated by the Ports Authority of Jamaica and Royal Caribbean to host the largest cruise ships in the world the "Oasis of the Seas" and "Allure of the Seas". Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. was awarded the contract for dredging and relocation activities. The worksite of the cruise ship terminal was considered extremely sensitive due to the combined presence of different ecosystems. A large-scale environmental mitigation plan was therefore conducted by Boskalis to preserve these resources.