Hydrodynamic sediment and dredge modelling of coastal ports (B1.2)

Task leader: Professor Tom Hardy, James Cook University.

Task associates:
Ms Melinda Louden, Townsville Port Authority
Ms K Kelleher, Cairns Port Authority

Developing models of water movement of selected Queensland ports will provide better information for risk management of port and shipping activities in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA).

There are many major and minor ports and marinas in or next to the GBRWHA and thousands of ships travel through the waters of the GBR annually. Although shipping activities are vital to us, they pose potential risks to the environment.

The hydrodynamic models of the major ports, will allow better understanding and management of activities such as docking large vessels and dredging of ports and shipping lanes. This work also will provide new insights to the fate of chemicals or sediments in the water column associated with the normal port operations.

The aims of this project are to:

• Develop fine scale 2-D and 3-D hydrodynamic and wave models for areas in and around ports.

• Investigate the retention and/or dispersal time for substances suspended in the water column.

• Evaluate and optimise dredge disposal sites.

• Develop capability to model sediment movement and predict siltation of channel and harbour basins, so that port facilities can be designed to optimise dredging costs and reduce environmental impacts.