Some 5,000 tonnes of mud and silt is to be dredged from Douglas marina and dumped out at sea.

Government is seeking a suitably experienced contractor to carry out the works in the inner harbour.

It will involve removing and disposing of sedimentary material deposited in the marina by river flow.

A quick quote request on the government website states that works are ’conditional on issue of a licence to deposit at sea and this must be issued by the ports division in consultation with DEFA prior to commencement’.

It states that all operations must be carried out within the approved dredging dates employing ’approved and appropriate measures’ to avoid unnecessary disturbance to the marine environment.

Dredging is due to commence this month.

It is estimate that works will require eight-10 pontoon fingers in the marina to be lifted out of the way.

Working on a 2.5m depth on phase one, nearest the lifting bridge, and 2m elsewhere, it is estimate that 3,300cubic metres - 5,000 tonnes - of silt and mud will be removed.

In correspondence with Peel campaigner Trevor Cowin, Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer (pictured) said: ’You may be assured that the licence situation will be resolved before any disposal to sea.’

But in April last year, the Minister had told him it might not be necessary to dump the dredged silt out to sea.

He said: ’Clearly there will be an ongoing need to dredge Douglas harbour, though that does not necessarily require the dumping of dredged silt at sea. I agree that it would be prudent to resolve the licence situation as soon as possible and in good time for any future application.’

Douglas marina was last dredged in 2016.

An excavator was used to clear about 5,000 tonnes of stone from Douglas harbour in the area adjacent to the Tongue buildings.

This was done to remove material brought down by previous winter’s heavy rainfall.

It was carried out by local contractors and the excavated stone was processed and recycled.

Meanwhile, a planning application has been submitted for the storage and disposal of contaminated silt from the marina at Peel, which was last dredged in 2015.

The aim is to remove 44,000 tonnes of silt which is threatening the closure of a number of berths.

This project will see the silt pumped or transported by lorry to a temporary lagoon constructed beyond the power station site.

It will be stored there for 18 months before the dried sediment is used to restore contaminated and eroded land next to the former Cross Vein mine, near Foxdale.