Gippsland Lakes’ TSHD Tommy Norton
The Department of Transport and Resources has released video footage on the 60-meter trailing suction hopper dredger Tommy Norton’ arriving at his home port of Gippsland Lakes in September 2017.
Following initial trials, testing and training, the hopper dredger quickly put to work delivering safe and reliable ocean access for the commercial vessels that cross the entrance bar.
Maintenance dredging at Lakes Entrance has been going on for more than 120 years and is vital to provide a reliable entrance to the Gippsland Lakes. Maintaining ocean access also reduces the risk and severity of flooding for local communities at Lakes Entrance, Paynesville and Metung and the surrounding agricultural regions.
The new $23 million dredge was built by Dutch company Damen at its Yichang Shipyard in Hubei province, China and enables Gippsland Ports to undertake dredging activities as have previously been provided by the Dutch contractor Van Oord, using the New Zealand based dredge, Pelican.