The Ports Directorate of the Department of Economic Development, Sustainability and the Environment has once again reminded Mutriku. But it was not four years ago that he was burned to repair the Kofradi Zaharra, nor to give a satisfactory end to the ill-initiated and misguided work that he is today.
The Port Authority of the Basque Government, with everyone’s money, has started dredging at the mouth of Zumaia, since, as every year, the shipyard situated on the River Urola has to be made to the sea. The remains will then be evacuated at the mouth of the port of Mutriku (Gipuzkoa). They say it's a clean residue. We find it incredible to have the clean sand at the end of the Urola River, which for so many years has been loaded with heavy metals and other kinds of factories.
"The fact that in 2021 you had to dredge the mouth to get a ship out of the shipyards brings us back to the 19th century. Climate change, environmental care, the famous NEXT projects… Are we really prepared?”
It has become clear that Zumaia’s ‘autodragant’ Dike does not do his job. However, the fact that in 2021 he had to dredge the mouth to take a boat out of the shipyards brings us back to the 19th century. Climate change, environmental care, the famous NEXT projects… Are we really prepared? You don't have to go too far to realize that there are opportunities. The boats of the Murueta shipyard, located in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve (much larger than those built in Zumaia), depart without dredging. But the boat has to be welded by floaters. And then take it off. And that has an economic cost. But those are the obligations to locate shipyards in a protected area like this. Remember, the Ría del Urola is a conservation space “ES2120004 – La Ría del Urola”.
The waste deposited in the outer mouth of the port of Mutriku extends into the Mutriku inlet channel forming an underwater desert. In addition, it further reduces the depth, making the entrance to the historic port even more dangerous. Does the repeated execution of dredging works to the shipyard of Zumaia with public money comply with European legislation? Isn't that secret help?
At the end of the month we have live tides, we are still in time to ship the ship from the Zumaia shipyard, using floats.