Sédiments et navigation en estuaire

Sediments and navigation in estuary

Port Autonome de Rouen, Service de l'Environnement Maritime et du Chenal

Abstract

Since the middle of the nineteenth century, the performances of the nautical access of the port of Rouen were improved in order to deal with the economical development requirements, through a strategy based on embankment works in the estuary. Navigation optimisation in the estuary of the Seine River leads to the quest of the best way to manage the channel, the necessary maintenance dredging and, consequently, the extracted sediments. This management needs to match two particular points: minimize the dredging (good knowledge of the environment is necessary), estimate chemical properties of the sediments, in order to be able to choose the best solution for the future of the sediments: off shore dumping, utilization of the materials, management for environmental rehabilitation of old water-quarries for instance.