Dredging begins to reopen Truro’s upper quays to boats

Anyone who has watched the Truro River empty at low tide knows how much of it turns to mud. A dredging programme has now begun to win some of that water back, clearing years of silt from the upper reaches of the Port of Truro so more boats can reach the city and stay longer when they arrive.

📷Credit: Chris Jones

What the works cover

The dredging targets three sites at the top of the port, Town Quay, Garras Wharf and Worth’s Quay. It is scheduled to take place between August and November 2026, worked around suitable high tides. The plan is to remove accumulated mud and silt from key areas of the riverbed, increasing the available navigation depth and extending the tidal window during which vessels can safely reach the upper quays.

That tidal window is the stretch of time when boats have enough clearance under the keel to move over the riverbed without grounding. Lengthen it and a wider range of vessels can get in, and for longer. The work is meant to support recreational boating, visiting vessels and wider activity across the port. It is being carried out by Cormac, appointed as contractor for the dredging.

📷Credit: Chris Jones

Restoring the port’s depth

The programme follows surveys carried out by Cornwall Council, the harbour authority for Truro, which pinpointed where silt had built up and shaped a targeted plan to bring the riverbed back to a smoother, more consistent profile.

Chris Jones, Harbour Master, said: “This is a significant investment in the future of the Port of Truro. By restoring navigable depths within the upper reaches of the port, we will be able to improve access for a wider range of vessels and extend the periods during which they can safely use our quays. These improvements will enhance the experience for harbour users and support the long-term sustainability and vitality of the port.”

📷Credit: Chris Jones

Where the dredged material goes

The mud and silt lifted from the riverbed does not simply vanish. Extensive ecological and environmental assessments were carried out before any dredging began, and all the necessary permissions were secured. That includes a Marine Management Organisation licence for the approved disposal of the dredged material in Falmouth Bay.

📷Credit: Chris Jones

What comes next at Garras Wharf

Dredging is the first step rather than the whole job. Once the riverbed work is done, the next stage is a new dinghy and day boat pontoon at Garras Wharf, along with improvements to the pathways, surfacing and railings there.

📷Credit: Chris Jones

Part of the Truro Town Deal

The dredging sits inside the wider Truro Town Deal, one of seven projects drawn up to revitalise the city after Truro secured a deal worth up to £23.6m in 2021 through the Government’s Towns Fund. The harbour and quay works form the waterfront strand of a plan the board describes as a “Connected River City”. Full details are on the project’s Let’s Talk Cornwall page.

Alan Stanhope, Chair of the Truro Town Deal Board, said: “Dredging the Truro river is something many people have wanted to see delivered for a long time. The river and port are central to the city’s history, identity and future, and these works will help unlock more opportunities for people to enjoy and make use of our waterfront. It is fantastic to see this work under Truro Town Deal being brought forward for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors alike.”

📷Credit: Chris Jones

Working to the tide

The vessel carrying out the work is the Mannin, seen moving up and down the river over these weeks. Because the dredger can only transit and turn safely when the water is high enough, the whole programme runs on the tide. Between mid-August and the end of November there are only about seven tidal opportunities when conditions suit the boat reaching the dredge area and turning off Town Quay.

Working hours will be set by the tides, the weather and the daylight, so some activity may fall outside normal working hours. Notices to Mariners have been issued, and measures will be in place throughout to keep navigation safe while the dredger is operating. Anyone with questions about the works can call Cormac on 0300 1234 222 or email [email protected].

📷Credit: Chris Jones

📷Credit: Chris Jones

📷Credit: Chris Jones