Cullen Bay maintenance dredging

The Northern Territory Government owns and maintains the Cullen Bay ferry facility, which includes the access channel, basin, ferry terminal, gangway, pontoon, rock groyne and car parking.

The facility supports the movement of over 150,000 passengers each year, with approximately 150 ferry services between Darwin and Tiwi Islands and 4,000 services between Darwin and Mandorah.

SeaLink operates the ferry services from Cullen Bay to the Tiwi Islands and Mandorah.

The Department of Logistics and Infrastructure undertakes dredging work at varying intervals subject to weather conditions, to maintain vessel access to the Cullen Bay ferry facility.

Current situation

The entrance channel and basin have silted up more rapidly in the recent past, impacting on vessel access into Cullen Bay, particularly at lower tides and for deeper draft vessels. This has resulted in cancellations and delays to ferry services due to limited low-tide access to Cullen Bay. Urgent dredging is now required.

Dredging works

The Cullen Bay dredging project is planned to commence from 20 May 2025, subject to finalisation of the environmental process. The dredging activity is anticipated to be completed by July/August 2025, subject to progress.

The scope of work includes:

• mobilising and commissioning a cutter suction dredge and ancillary marine plant and personnel
• setting up sunken hoses to convey the dredge materials away from Cullen Bay
• dredging the basin and access channel to Cullen Bay ferry facility to relocate the silts to a disposal site away from Cullen Bay to deep water west of Emery Point.

The dredging program is being undertaken by SMC Marine and Maritime Constructions.

Dredging will be undertaken in accordance with environmental requirements, including controlling and monitoring water quality and managing cutter suction dredger operations.

Map

Impacts

There may be some access restrictions to the ferry terminal and Cullen Bay Lock, particularly when the dredge is working within the areas encompassing the eastern and western seawalls.

Stakeholders will be kept informed of access restrictions via stakeholder notices, Notice to Mariners (NtM) via the Regional Harbour Master (RHM) and via the ferry provider. Read Notice to Mariners 

There will be some changes to the Mandorah ferry services to accommodate the dredging project.

Information

SeaLink will notify ferry passengers on any changes to ferry services before they occur.

For more information, contact Darwin Harbour Infrastructure Projects on DHIP.DLI@nt.gov.au or 08 8936 5668 and for any queries relating to the ferry service please contact SeaLink on 1300 130 679 or email contracts.dli@nt.gov.au.