The emergency dredging programme will focus on the deepwater channel and port and will provide access for larger vessels bringing in humanitarian aid. At present, only smaller ships are able to enter the port due to draft restrictions. The extent of the dredging requirements will be determined once a survey ship, which arrived at the port on 28 April, has completed its work.

Great Lakes is expected to mobilise equipment for the subcontract from the region. Its biggest ongoing assignment in the Gulf is the $60 million dredging and reclamation package on the Khalifa bin Salman port and industrial area project in Bahrain.

Further dredging work is anticipated at Umm Qasr under Bechtel's capital construction contract, including the dredging of the main shipping channel. However, significant subcontract packages will be awarded through competitive bidding.