Harwich Haven Authority (HHA) and marine contractor Boskalis Westminster have launched a new joint venture, Suffolk Dredging LLP, to manage maintenance dredging across the waterways serving Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich. The move brings together the local authority’s on-the-ground knowledge of the Haven and Boskalis’s international dredging experience.
What the new company will do
Suffolk Dredging will take on HHA’s existing five-year maintenance dredging contract, responsible for ensuring navigable depths for vessels passing through the Haven. The joint venture has also secured the licence for Tiamat, an innovative dredging system developed by Harwich Haven Authority, which the partners say opens the door to both improved local operations and potential international deployment.
"The formation of Suffolk Dredging LLP marks an exciting new chapter for Harwich Haven Authority," said Jake Storey, chief financial officer at Harwich Haven Authority.
HHA is a non-profit trust that manages navigation into the UK’s largest container port at Felixstowe as well as the ports of Harwich and Ipswich. Boskalis Westminster brings an extensive global portfolio of dredging and marine services to the venture.
Local impact and future prospects
Officials say the partnership aims to deliver higher operational efficiency, foster innovation in dredging practice and strengthen the sustainability of maintenance work in the Haven. The licence for Tiamat gives Suffolk Dredging a starting point to expand services and market that technology beyond Suffolk’s coastline.
Paul de Jong, managing director of Boskalis Westminster, commented on the partnership:
"We are delighted to be partnering with Harwich Haven Authority in Suffolk Dredging LLP. This joint venture combines complementary strengths and creates a platform for delivering safe, efficient and innovative dredging solutions, both within the Haven and potentially in new markets around the world."
- Contract length: Five-year maintenance dredging contract transferred to Suffolk Dredging LLP.
- Technology: Licence to operate and commercialise the Tiamat system.
- Ports served: Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich.
| Partner | Role |
|---|---|
| Harwich Haven Authority | Local navigation management, Tiamat developer |
| Boskalis Westminster | Global dredging expertise, operational delivery |
For Suffolk, the arrangement seeks to secure the regular dredging required to keep large container and freight vessels moving, which underpins jobs and trade connected to the region’s ports. The potential international rollout of Tiamat would also create a route for locally developed marine technology to reach wider markets.
As the venture begins operations, local shipping businesses, port operators and marine workers will be watching for how the partnership balances routine maintenance demands with the development and testing of new equipment. Suffolk Dredging’s success in both areas will determine whether the Haven’s channels remain reliably navigable and whether the county’s maritime expertise can be translated into exportable technology.
