Our services

Marine Dredging and Disposal Plans (small ports and harbour development)

In South Africa the disposal of dredged spoil at sea is a common practice. Alternatives for disposal are unfortunately not easily considered, as options for reuse has not been sufficiently investigated or is not economically viable. Furthermore, the decision for reuse of dredged spoil is largely depended on the level of toxicity of the material proposed for reuse. The South African legislation is clear that no harmful material will be dumped into the sea. Consequently, the material cannot be reused if it is considered toxic. Therefore, it is vital that proper management steps be put in place to monitor what is being disposed of and the toxicity of the source material.

 

The South African government permits disposal at sea activities once the applicant has met with the requirements for such disposal. In addition, the assessment of an application adopts the provision of the Waste Assessment Guidelines for the 1996 Protocol. Subsequent to an assessment of the application, the government would issue a permit for the disposal event with conditions which the permitee must adhere to.


There are 7 listed categories of waste the DEA may allow for sea disposal in accordance with the countries National legislation and international obligations. Of the listed categories, dredged material has been the most frequently permitted by the DEA followed by the scuttling of vessels. The vessel scuttling activity in the country has largely been based on emergency situations where disposal of the vessel would be allowed to prevent a loss of live or damage to property. The disposal of dredged spoil at sea is primarily based on port maintenance and harbour expansion activities.

 

Our services include suport in the application process through the developement of managment plans to ensure complience with permit agreements. As the disposal of waste at sea is an complex process, our services will be tailoured to your application requitrments and the nature of the operation. 

Environmental Contingency Planning

The development, implementation, and testing of oil spill contingency plans or any environmental pollution contingency plans is an intensive, time-consuming process. It includes multistakeholder negotiations and resource status investigation, which can take several months to complete. In most cases, based on the level of plan development, several site investigations may be necessary. Therefore, our team would need to tailor our level of engagement on the project to meet your needs. These can include services we currently offer:

  1. Stakeholder workshops;

  2. Site inspection to assess possible response strategies and environmental risk evaluation;

  3. Equipment auditing and capability review (partner company);

  4. ICS/IMS training (partner company);

  5. Oil spill exercise; and

  6. First and final draft Oil spill plan submission.

 

If you have any question related to what we can offer please contact use for a free consultation.

Environmental Management plans or specific Environmental Management plans

The coastal zone is a dynamic, ever-changing environment that requires detailed and precise planning to ensure its sustainable protection. Coastal zones are highly susceptible to landward and sea-based interaction and sources of potential pollution or activities, which may have impacts on the environment's delicate balance. This balance can be effectively managed through sustainable and practical solutions.

 

ESS products are well established in the market for the development of environmental management plans to serve your every venture. Our consultants have extensive experience in plan development. Our consultants also have unique perspectives, drawing on their government experience in plan approval and regulators in the field at a national level. We offer a complete package from plan development to review and implementation to regulatory compliance. We have experience in the development of coastal discharge, vessel hull cleaning, port/harbour maintenance plans, and many other related activities.

 

Spill Response Equipment 

Through our partners, you will have access to oil spill equipment to manage most of your environmental needs. Oil spill or spill-related equipment can be sourced separately with expert advice on its use. Feel free to contact us for more information