Marine Works
Dredging
The Harbour Master, Humber, is responsible for obtaining dredging deposit licences under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food and Environment Protection Act 1985. He is also responsible for obtaining a licence for capital dredging deposits.
Sunk Dredged Channel
The Harbour Master is the Engineer for the Sunk Dredged Channel. In this role, he is responsible for calling in the dredger when the channel is shoaling and requires dredging to its guaranteed depth of 8.8 metres below chart datum.
The Sunk Dredged Channel was dredged to enable deep-draughted vessels to use the deep-water terminals of the Immingham Oil Terminal and the Immingham Bulk Terminal.
Click here to view our chart of the Sunk Dredged channel Volume Dredged 1969-2010.
Notes for Guidance
Notes for Guidance Setting Out Consent Procedures for the Carrying Out of Works Below Mean High Water Mark
Associated British Ports (ABP), by virtue of the Humber Conservancy Acts, 1852 - 1907 and the Humber Harbour Reorganisation Scheme, 1966, Confirmation Order, 1967, is the Conservancy and Navigation Authority for the River Humber (including Lower Trent to Gainsborough) as defined in the Acts and also the Local Lighthouse Authority within the meaning of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. ABP is also the beneficial owner, by virtue of long-term leases, of most of the foreshore and bed of the river.
The carrying-out of all works, including the erection of bridges and other like structures, below Mean High Water Mark of Ordinary Spring Tides, requires the prior written approval of the following authorities:-
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- ABP for the purposes of Section 9 of the Humber Conservancy Act, 1899 as amended by Section 6 of the Humber Conservancy Act 1905.
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- Department for Transport (DfT) for the purposes of Section 9(i) of the Humber Conservancy Act, 1899 as amended by Section 6 of the Humber Conservancy Act, 1905 and Section 34 of the Coast Protection Act, 1949.
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- Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for the purposes of the Food and Environment Protection Act, 1985.
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- The Environment Agency for the purposes of the Water Resources Act 1991.
The consent of ABP above will be dealt with by the Harbour Master, Humber, and for these purposes THREE copies each of the following drawings are required:-
(a) An Ordnance Sheet on the scale of 1/2500 of the immediate locality with the work indicated upon it in distinctive colour. High and Low Lines of Ordinary Spring Tides should be shown on the Ordnance Sheet; and
(b) A detailed plan and cross-section of the riverbed and foreshore affected, with the work delineated in distinctive colour and shown in elevation. The section should be drawn on a scale not less than 1/200, and should show the High and Low Lines of Ordinary Spring Tides, the position of Ordnance Datum and have the principal dimensions figured upon it.
The consent of the DfT as referred to in (2) above and the licence issued by DEFRA as per (3) above can be applied for jointly on application to:-
Marine Consents & Environment Unit
Ergon House (Area 3A)
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
Tel: 020 7238 5870
Fax: 020 7238 5724
Or visit www.mceu.gov.uk for an on-line application form.
The consent of ABP cannot be granted until the DfT consent has been issued. You are advised, therefore, to forward a copy of the DfT consent to ABP as soon as it is received.
A copy of any licence or exemption issued by DEFRA must also be furnished to ABP.
Any approval granted by ABP will be subject to certain conditions to protect its conservancy and navigation interests and these will include the requirement for the works to be marked and/or lighted if considered necessary.
If the site of the works is on, under or over Crown foreshore and bed of river within the area of ABP lease-holding, the works will be subject to licence arrangements and the payment of such annual financial consideration as may be determined.
Before submitting formal application and final drawings to ABP, you are advised to obtain any necessary planning approval from the appropriate local government authority.
As previously stated, the above statutory procedures apply to all works (including dredging and depositing) below Mean High Water Mark of Ordinary Spring Tides. Applicants are required to satisfy themselves that they have the approval of the owner of the land above High Water Mark both for construction and access before formally approaching ABP.
Notes:
i. This Authority cannot consent to works in the River Humber beyond or riverward of the River Lines as defined in Section 13 of the Humber Conservancy Act, 1905; such works requiring the authority of a private Act of Parliament or an Order under the Transport & Works Act 1992.
ii. Certain areas of River Humber foreshores are notified as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for the purposes of Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981; as Special Protection Areas under European Union Directive 79/409/EEC on the Conservation of Wild Birds; and as Wetlands of International Importance under the “Ramsar Convention”. You are advised, therefore, to consult with English Nature, Institute for Applied Biology, University of York, York, YO1 5DD. A copy of any consent issued by them must be furnished to ABP.
iii. Any temporary works (coffer dams, causeways, etc.) needed to facilitate construction should also be shown on the scheme drawing and marked “Temporary - to be removed”.
iv. Applicants should allow sufficient time for consents to be obtained from the DfT, in respect of Section (2) above, due to the extensive consultations that have be to be undertaken.