Able Seaton Port berths, Holding Basin and Channel
Details of the marine licence application for Able Seaton Port berths, Holding Basin and Channel.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
Application
On 29 July 2015, Able UK Ltd submitted an application to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) for a marine licence to continue to improve access into Able Seaton Port by deepening the approach channel and maintaining access thereafter. The application was to increase depths from -6 m Chart Datum (CD) to -6.5 m with a capital dredge of 545,000 m3 of clay and 150,000 m3 of silt, with maintenance activities until March 2026. Able UK Ltd applied to dispose of dredged material at the existing Tees Bay C and Tees Bay A disposal sites.
Initial Licence
Following a full consultation process, marine licence L/2017/00012/1 was granted on 2 March 2017 and will expire 1 March 2026. The licence contained conditions within it, including a requirement for mid-licence sampling at the end of years 3 and 6, and that no dredging was permitted during the months of February and March in any year.
Variation 1
On 15 March 2017, a variation request was submitted on behalf of Able UK Ltd to vary the marine licence by adding a new maintenance dredge activity that included the dredge of up to 438 m3 of silt sediment, which had accumulated on the Grounding Bed that is situated within the dry dock. This variation request was approved and marine licence L/2017/00012/2 was granted on 7 April 2017.
Variation 2
On 28 June 2017, the Marine Management Organisation opened and processed a variation request to correct the disposal quantities in Activity 2.1 and Activity 3.1 as it had been identified that the disposal quantities on the current licence were incorrect. This variation request was approved and marine licence L/2017/00012/3 was granted on 18 September 2017.
Variation 3
On 11 October 2017, a variation request was submitted on behalf of Able UK Ltd to vary the marine licence so that semi-submersible rigs could be accommodated. This variation request was withdrawn on 8 February 2018.
Variation 4
On 9 February 2018, a variation request was submitted on behalf of Able UK Ltd to vary the marine licence to add new capital and maintenance activities so that the TERRC Basin and Quay 7,8,9 could be dredged to allow vessels access to Quay 6. The Grounding Bed dredge methodology was amended and maintenance dredge quantities increased. The dredged material would be deposited at sea to Tees Bay A (TY160). Following consultation with MMO’s technical advisors Cefas, as well as Natural England, the Environment Agency and the local Harbour Authority, this variation request was approved and marine licence L/2017/00012/4 was granted on 9 November 2018.
Variation 5
On 2 September 2020, a variation request was submitted on behalf of Able UK Ltd to vary the marine licence to permit the use of erosion control matting. This variation request was withdrawn on 4 September 2020.
Variation 6
On 4 September 2020, the Marine Management Organisation opened and processed a variation request to correct the licence coordinates as they were misaligned on the licence. This issue was due to an admin error. L/2017/00012/5 was granted on 14 September 2020.
Variation 7
On 14 September 2020, a variation request was submitted on behalf of Able UK Ltd to vary the marine licence to increase the Activity 1.1 capital dredge by 30,000m3 of clay, as well as replace the drawing showing dredge locations and dredge depths with an updated drawing one. The dredged material would be deposited at sea to either Tees Bay A (TY160) or Tees Bay C (TY150). Following consultation, this variation request was approved and marine licence L/2017/00012/6 was granted on 29 October 2020.
Variation 8
On 3 November 2020, a variation request was submitted on behalf of Able UK Ltd to vary the marine licence to permit the use of erosion matting at the north east side of Quay 11 and to correct an error in the co-ordinates in licence schedule 3. Following consultation, this variation request was approved and marine licence L/2017/00012/7 granted on 2 August 2021.
Variation 9
On 6 May 2022, a variation request was submitted on behalf of Able UK Ltd to vary the marine licence to increase the Activity 1.1 capital dredge by 145,000m3 so that a 100m wide, rather than 85m wide, approach channel could be dredged to a depth of -9.5m Chart Datum. The dredged material would be deposited at sea to either Tees Bay A (TY160) or Tees Bay C (TY150). As a result of this change, the coordinates in licence schedule 3, as well as the drawing showing dredge locations and dredge depths, needed to be updated. Following consultation with Cefas, this variation request was approved and L/2017/00012/8 granted on 9 September 2022.
Variation 10
On 28 September 2022, a variation request was submitted on behalf of Able UK Ltd to vary the marine licence to: replace the drawing showing dredge locations and dredge depths with an updated one that has the correct coordinate at the seaward extent of the channel; to update the disposal quantities, which were not updated when dredge quantities were increased via variation requests 4, 7 and 9; to amend dredge material in Activity 1.1 to more accurately reflect the material to be dredged; to split dredge activity 2.3 into a capital dredge activity and a maintenance dredge activity; and amend the methodology and descriptions in section 4 of the Marine Licence to be consistent between activities. This variation request was approved and marine licence L/2017/00012/9 was granted on 30 January 2023.