Maintenance Dredging

Salcombe's signed dredging contract still lacks a completion record

Published 6 August 2026 Publisher IMWO Region Europe Confidence Confirmed
Official Salcombe Harbour Authority view of sailing vessels and harbour operations along the Kingsbridge estuary shoreline in Devon

Salcombe Harbour Authority; operating-estuary context image, not evidence of 2026 dredging mobilisation, method or completion

South Hams District Council signed Van Oord UK Limited on 11 March 2026 for GBP 101,600 excluding VAT, with an estimated contract period ending 11 May. The earlier tender expected water injection dredging at Batson Creek, Lincombe and Kingsbridge. Public records confirm the award and tendered scope, but not mobilisation, the plant used, measured quantities, post-dredge levels, navigation release or owner acceptance.

The signed baseline moved two months later than the tender programme

Find a Tender's UK7 notice and OCDS package control the 2026 contractor, signed value and contract period. The UK4 notice controls the tendered work areas, expected WID method, estimate and original programme. The 2015 and 2021 Contracts Finder releases are separate historical contracts. No cited source proves 2026 physical start, quantity, post-dredge survey, navigation release or acceptance.

Completion evidence remains unpublished after the scheduled period

For work in a live estuary, tendered method and delivered method, contract calendar and accepted result must remain separate. Vessel access, harbour notices, environmental controls, hydrographic levels and measured quantities determine the operational outcome; none can be inferred from an award notice alone.

Evidence conclusion

Hold the project at award until field evidence closes the chain

The strongest defensible position is award stage. Van Oord, the signed value and the 11 March to 11 May contract period are confirmed. Batson Creek, Lincombe, Kingsbridge and WID are tender-stage expectations. The separate 2015 and 2021 awards establish recurring buyer-supplier and method history, not the 2026 quantity, vessel, terms or completion. Promotion to construction or completed status requires a dated harbour, council or contractor record showing mobilisation or accepted output.

Outstanding evidence

  • Named dredger or WID plant and mobilisation date
  • Confirmation of the actual dredging method
  • Measured quantities by Batson Creek, Lincombe and Kingsbridge
  • Pre- and post-dredge hydrographic levels
  • Environmental monitoring and sediment-dispersion controls
  • Harbour notices, navigation restrictions and reopening
  • Completion certificate, owner acceptance and final account
  • Survey, monitoring, support-vessel and other downstream parties

Related records 1

Subject index

Related subjects

These subject pages bring together related projects, technical articles, reports, and evidence methods.

Sources used 6

Source collections