Can someone explain dredging for me?

[Jillpie]

What exactly is this and why are they dredging at Port Canaveral?

 

[CGC33A]

I am no engineeer, but I think dredging is when they scrape the bottom of the ocean channel (in this case) to make it deeper. The storm upset the seabed & brought in lots of sand etc to make it too shallow for most ships, so they have to make it deep enough again.

 

[Dreamer04]

Hi. The hurricane have pushed alot of sand towards the piers at Port Canaveral (probably other ports, too). Making the water too shallow for the cruise ships.

Dredging digs up and pumps that sand back out to sea.

Hope this helps.

Ursula

PS
They can also dredge in the opposite direction-this is how they refurbish beaches that are washed away in storms.

 

[Jillpie]

Thats what I thought it might be, but I wasn't quite sure. Thanks.

 

[jrabbit]

Maybe instead of dredging PC they should wait and see if Ivan comes in from west to east and maybe it would push the sand back out to sea!! No, no, just joking. I wouldn't want to see another huricanne come through Florida and if it was that strong after crossing the state, it would be huge and cause a lot of damage/death and destruction. FL has seen more than their share this year!!

Depending upon where Ivan goes, they might have more dredging to do after that one!