Sedimentation and siltation is the natural process of sediment buildup on the seabed which impacts the navigation and accessibility of ports. Dredging is the process of removing natural sediment from the seabed, while shoreline protection helps rebuild eroded areas around land or marine structures. Dredging requires careful planning and coordination with owners, stakeholders and appropriate regulatory authorities as it is important to understand the restrictions involved. In Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans prohibits most dredging and protection activities outside of the open fisheries time period, which varies by region and location, and typically is 6 months of a calendar year.

VanPile uses sophisticated GPS software on its vessels, including multi-beam and hydrographic surveying equipment, to produce, track and record accurate dredging and protection results for our dredging and erosion protection divisions.