Douglas Inner Harbour dredging

Summary

A request for details on Douglas Inner Harbour dredging activities, including disposal locations, costs, and contractors, was partially fulfilled by the Department of Infrastructure. While disposal coordinates and historical silt quantities were provided, information regarding specific companies and costs was withheld under commercial interest exemptions.

Key Facts

• Dredged silt is deposited at a designated offshore site North East of Douglas Head.
• The disposal site is defined by specific GPS coordinates forming a box.
• Dredging occurred once in 2023 and 2025, with no activity in 2024.
• 2250 tonnes of silt were removed in 2023, while 2025 figures are unavailable as work is ongoing.
• Silt samples are tested for heavy metals and contaminants before offshore disposal.

Data Disclosed

• 24th September 2025
• 26th September 2025
• 8 October 2025
• 11 November 2025
• 54° 09.00N
• 004° 27.30W
• 54° 09.50N
• 004° 26.50W
• 54° 09.50N
• 004° 25.60W
• 54° 09.00N
• 004° 25.60W
• 0.5NM
• 1.2NM
• 1.6NM
• 1.4NM
• 2023
• 2024
• 2025
• 2250 Tonne
• 0 Tonne

Exemptions Cited

• Section 30(2)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Commercial interests)

Original Request

On 24th September 2025, a green mechanical crane fitted to a vessel berthed adjacent to the lifting bridge in Douglas Inner Harbour (the Marina side), was seen dredging silt from the Inner Harbour floor and emptying it in to a barge floating next to it. Two days later it was noted that the barge was empty, the contents apparently disposed of. Please can you confirm the following: 1. Where was the silt from Douglas Inner Harbour (the marina side) deposited? 2. If it was at sea, was it North or South of Douglas? 3. What was the approx GPS location of the depositing? 4. What was the distance from Douglas Outer Harbour of the depositing? 5. Which company carried out the dredging work in Douglas Inner Harbour on 24th/26th September 2025? 6. How often has Douglas Inner Harbour been dredged each year 2023, 2024 and 2025? 7. How much has it cost/been paid to the companies undertaking such dredging work in the years 2023, 2024 and 2025? 8. Approx what quantity of silt has been removed from Douglas Inner Harbour in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025? 9. Has there been any laboratory/scientific testing carried out on the dredged silt e.g. for heavy metals or contaminates or pollutants, before the dredged silt is deposited elsewhere? 10. If so, who carried out such testing? Thank you.

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 4989569 11 November 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 8 October 2025, which states:

"On 24th September 2025, a green mechanical crane fitted to a vessel berthed adjacent to the lifting bridge in Douglas Inner Harbour (the Marina side), was seen dredging silt from the Inner Harbour floor and emptying it in to a barge floating next to it. Two days later it was noted that the barge was empty, the contents apparently disposed of.

Please can you confirm the following:

1. Where was the silt from Douglas Inner Harbour (the marina side) deposited?

2. If it was at sea, was it North or South of Douglas?

3. What was the approx GPS location of the depositing?

4. What was the distance from Douglas Outer Harbour of the depositing?

5. Which company carried out the dredging work in Douglas Inner Harbour on 24th/26th September 2025?

6. How often has Douglas Inner Harbour been dredged each year 2023, 2024 and 2025?

7. How much has it cost/been paid to the companies undertaking such dredging work in the years 2023, 2024 and 2025?

8. Approx what quantity of silt has been removed from Douglas Inner Harbour in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025?

9. Has there been any laboratory/scientific testing carried out on the dredged silt e.g. for heavy metals or contaminates or pollutants, before the dredged silt is deposited elsewhere?

10. If so, who carried out such testing?

Thank you."

Our response to your request is as follows: I have detailed below the answers to your questions.

1. The silt from Douglas Inner Harbour is deposited at a designated offshore disposal site.
2. The designated disposal site is located North East of Douglas Head.
3. The designated disposal site is within a box delineated by positions: (A) 54° 09.00N 004° 27.30W (B) 54° 09.50N 004° 26.50W (C) 54° 09.50N 004° 25.60W (D) 54° 09.00N 004° 25.60W
4. The distance from Douglas Outer Harbour for the depositing of silt is: (A) 0.5NM (B) 1.2NM (C) 1.6NM (D) 1.4NM
5. Information in regard to the company that carried out the dredging work in Douglas Inner Harbour, is exempt under Section 30(2)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.
6. Douglas Inner Harbour was dredged once in 2023 and 2025. There was no dredging in 2024.
7. Information around costs is exempt under Section 30(2)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.

8. The quantity of silt removed from Douglas Inner Harbour in 2023 was 2250 Tonne. There was no dredging in 2024, therefore the quantity is 0 Tonne. Dredging for 2025 is still underway, as a result, no figures are available.

9. Samples from the inner harbour were taken and tested before the dredge operation and disposal began. The tests are carried to identify the level of heavy metals and contaminates to establish if the levels are low enough so that the silt can be disposed of offshore.

10. Information in regard to the company that carried out the testing, is exempt under Section 30(2)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the answers to questions 5,7 and 10 are exempt from disclosure under section 30(2)(b) of the Act as disclosure would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of person (including the Department of Infrastructure).

As section 30(2)(b) is a qualified exemption, it is subject to a public interest test. The public interest must be something that is of serious concern and benefit to the public at large.

Factors in favour of disclosure • Revealing contractor costs ensures taxpayers know how funds are allocated. • Business can respond better to public sector opportunities.

Factors in favour of withholding • If negotiations are still active, disclosure could harm the process. • The need to protect the commercial interests of the private sector, which plays an important role in the general health of the economy. • Disclosure might harm subcontractor or supplier relationships if rates are exposed. • Disclosure could damage a company's reputation if linked to sensitive or controversial projects.

In taking these factors into account the Department of Infrastructure determined that the factors in favour of maintaining the exemption outweigh the factors in favour of disclosing the information.

Please quote the reference number 4989569 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.