Dredging Strategy
One dredging contract, three material routes across Tunisia's strategic ports
OMMP moved the three-port works from a second single-lot open tender into a signed DEME contract, then opened a separate supervision and technical-assistance procurement. The result is one award but not one repeatable work front: containment, reclamation, offshore disposal, and shore pumping create three different production systems for the same TSHD campaign.
What changed
Tunisia's HAICOP procurement record shows that OMMP published the second open tender on 12 June 2025 as one budget-funded maritime-works lot, with bids due and scheduled to open on 29 July. The portal's later Complet status applies to the procurement record and does not establish physical completion. Tunis Afrique Presse reported on 7 May 2026 that OMMP had signed a contract worth about TND 125 million for La Goulette/Rades, Sousse, and Bizerte/Menzel-Bourguiba. OMMP's 18 May notice then opened a separate guidance, monitoring, and technical-assistance tender. DEME's 3 June disclosure confirms the contractor, staged containment and TSHD sequence, and a contract share worth up to EUR 50 million. Sousse material is assigned to reclamation; Menzel-Bourguiba/Bizerte combines reclamation and offshore disposal; and Rades/La Goulette requires all material to be pumped ashore. The signed contract is public, but fleet mobilisation, dredged quantities, containment completion, approved material destinations, production and acceptance are not.
Why it matters
The contract's main delivery risk is not a headline dredging volume, which has not been published. It lies in keeping enabling works, material destinations, pipelines, storage, supervision and a fleet moving among ports more than 200 km apart synchronized.
Decision read
What remains open
This contract should be managed as three linked material systems rather than one dredging production curve. Sousse depends on containment and reclamation readiness. Bizerte/Menzel-Bourguiba adds an allocation decision between reclamation and offshore disposal. Rades/La Goulette depends on shore-pumping capacity and a designated receiving area. A delay in any destination can idle the TSHD or force a change in port sequence, so material acceptance is a schedule control, not a downstream environmental formality.
Next watchpoints
- Containment-dike readiness before reclamation starts
- TSHD mobilization and inter-port sequence
- Material characterization and offshore-disposal approvals
- Shore-pumping route and receiving-area readiness at Rades/La Goulette
- Award and September start of the separate supervision assignment
Knowledge context
Related knowledge topics
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Sources used 7
- Second open tender for dredging works at the three port complexes Tunisia High Authority for Public Procurement / OMMP, 12 June 2025
- OMMP reports the three-port dredging contract signed Tunis Afrique Presse, 7 May 2026
- Notice of Tender No. 25/2026 for dredging guidance, monitoring, and technical assistance Office de la Marine Marchande et des Ports, 18 May 2026
- DEME secures dredging contract to enhance access to strategic Tunisian ports DEME Group, 3 June 2026
- Detailed Tunisia three-port dredging contract release DEME Group, 3 June 2026
- Tender 102281 notice document for dredging guidance, monitoring, and technical assistance Tunisia High Authority for Public Procurement / OMMP, 29 May 2026
- Tender 102281 for supervision of dredging works at the three ports Tunisia High Authority for Public Procurement, 29 May 2026
Corrections and methodology
Facts are dated to the source record above. IMWO updates the brief when procurement, award, delivery, or scope evidence materially changes.
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