Dredging of the port of Barneville-Carteret will begin, but it is causing a lot of talk

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The municipal council of Barneville-Carteret (Manche) met Thursday November 7, 2024 sous the presidency by David Legouet, the mayor. Among the subjects on the agenda, the mayor wanted to return to the port dredging work which should start soon.

Remember that maritime dredging operations consist of remove accumulated sediment at the bottom of ports and their access channels; they are essential to maintain the depths required has the evolution of ships.

David Legouet: “I have no competence to contradict the experts”

A few weeks ago, in an article from a local weeklyTHE opposition elected officials took stock of the situation, accusing Mayor David Legouet of not telling the whole truth on this subject.

« Being called a liar forces me to reframe these statements, a denial is therefore necessary,” thundered the councilor during the municipal council, even if the opposition today refutes having made these remarks.

It has been 4 and a half years since you, the opposition elected officials, have been in the position of advisor: it is time for you to understand that the port is under the jurisdiction of the SPL des Ports de la Manche and not the municipality! I have no competence to contradict the experts who have worked on these studies since 1980.

In Septemberthe SPL des Ports de la Manche has announced dredging operations in the wet basin, in order to remove approximately 60,000 m³ of sediments which constitute a nuisance for users you port.

Bertrand Ladune: “It will be more than 60,000 m3 of sediment”

What followed was an exchange around the municipal council table. “It will be more than 60,000 m³warned Bertrand Ladune. Because to be extracted, the sediments will be mixed with water and the volume will be greater. Additionally, according to the record, no analysis is planned in the basement of the sediments. »

Mayor's response:

The mixture you are talking about cannot make 936,000 m3. This figure is mind-blowing. The mixture being made up of 20% sand and 80% water, the mixture will be a maximum of 60,000 m3 x 5 or 300,000 m3. You have to know how to use a calculator and not talk nonsense!

Elected from the minority list, Vincent Arnaud took the floor, wielding irony: “I hope that the sediment analyzes were not carried out by the cabinet which assured that the new port “would not silt up more than that” . For 4 years, the new door has been installed and functional, the sediment level in certain places has risen by almost 1 meter. »

Deputy Gilbert Chodorge refuted these statements. Elected officials will not agree on these technical details. In order to close the “debate”David Legouet recalled that the analyzes were carried out by an independent firm and are comply with current regulations. As a reminder, the entire file was validated by the state services.

Venus Manche arrived in the port

The dredger “Venus Manche” arrived in the marina a month ago. The machine purchased by the SPL des Ports de la Manche is not yet in service because she has need adjustments.

Dredging operations should begin in a few days and be completed no later than April 30, 2025according to the provisions of the authorization of the State services.

The sediments will then be turned back at sea by means of a pipe network of a length of 2.6 km up to one discharge point located on the foreshore, outside the haven.

From our correspondent Chantal LECLERC

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