The Port Authority of Jamaica, in its normal role of maintaining access to the shipping channels and berths in Kingston Harbour and at the Port of Kingston, has been carrying out routine dredging operations over the last few weeks using the services of the trailer suction dredge, Al-Idrisi, which arrived in Jamaica on December 20.

The dredging work is to maintain the berths at Kingston Container Terminal at their established draft of 13 metres, a process which is necessary every few years due to silting of the harbour mainly from run-off from the Duhaney River and the Sandy Gully system. The Al-Idrisi is owned and operated by the Belgian Jan de Nul Group, which is represented in Jamaica by Maritime and Transport Services Limited.

Dredging consists of the removal of material from the sea floor to enable access to cargo ships and boats.

This particular dredging operation is not related to the major dredging project, which is to start in 2014, to deepen the access channel and berths to enable the passage of larger vessels consequent on the expansion of the Panama Canal, scheduled to be completed in early 2015.

Public Affairs Division, United States Embassy Kingston:

The United States Customs and Border Protection - Container Security Initiative, recently honoured several Jamaican public and private sector representatives for their partnership with the United States authorities in the mission to protect trade relations between the United States and Jamaica. Among those recognised was the Shipping Association of Jamaica's General Manager Trevor Riley, who was presented with a certificate of appreciation by Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater.