Southampton Channel Deepening - The provision of dredging services at the Port of Southampton

• Associated British Ports (ABP) is the UK's largest ports group with 21 ports across the UK, providing essential gateways for trade and enabling the green infrastructure essential for the UK's energy transition. ABP directly employs over 2,400 individuals across the UK and handle approximately a quarter of the country's seaborne trade. The Port of Southampton is largest UK export port and a critical gateway handling container, automotive, cruise, and bulks.

• ABP is looking to appoint a suitably qualified Principal Contractor to provide capital dredging services for proposed channel deepening works at the Port of Southampton and in the Nab Deep Water Channel. The works involve dredging for disposal at sea, and the relevant enabling activities including mitigation measures for the risk of marine UXO. The works will include dredging adjacent to an operational quay wall and in areas with buried pipelines for which the Contractor will be required to have the appropriate plant and equipment, and proven experience of similar scale works. The works are to be planned by the Contractor to avoid disruption to Port navigation traffic and quayside operations.

• ABP has undertaken a two-stage negotiated procurement process for the Scope identified in accordance with The Procurement Act 2023 and the Procurement Regulations 2024 using the Competitive Flexible Procedure. The Procurement Specific Questionnaire was issued to the market on 12th January 2026 and The Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the project was released to market on 08th April 2026.