Falmouth Cruise Project

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSEMENT

As you may remember, we appointed Exeter based consultants Royal Haskoning back in March to undertake a full environmental impact assessment for the proposed scheme. Good progress has been made.

Using modeling software, the channel design has been confirmed as suitable for the Freedom of the Seas class of cruise vessel which at 340m is the largest in service in the world.

Samples of seabed have been taken and examined for their type, flora and fauna content as well as any contaminants present. This data has been used to inform proposals for beneficial use of spoil that has the potential to substantially reduce the amount required to be disposed of at sea. Plans for using the contaminated spoil beneficially as infill are also being progressed.

When the beneficial use options have been agreed, a full hydrodynamic model will be constructed to look at the effects of the scheme on current circulation, and wave generation. This model will also predict the behaviour of any sediments mobilized during the dredging operation.

Whilst much work has been done, there is still more to do and we are not expecting the final report until May next year. The Environmental Statement produced will be used to support applications for statutory consents necessary to undertake the works. Funding from the new convergence fund and the Regional Development Agency will also be sought at this stage.

Cornwall County Council have recently appointed Arup consultants to undertake an economic impact assessment of the scheme. The funding for this assessment has been provided by the County Council, the Regional Development Agency and the Harbour Authorities involved. We are confident that the outcome of this study will further reinforce the economic case for the project to proceed.

Exhibition material

A number of reports have now been received as part of the EIA process, these are;

Phase 1 habitat survey of the docks(PDF 460Kb)

Phase 1 report _Figure 1.1(PDF 100Kb)

Vibrocore survey report(PDF 5Mb)

Sediment quality data(PDF 640Kb)

Sediment quality survey results(PDF 185Kb)

Sediment quality survey results - Addendum(PDF 13Kb)

CEFAS Algal Cyst results(PDF 180Kb)

CEFAS Bioassay results(PDF 100Kb)