The National Oil Refinery (RECOPE) this week started dragging sediment away from the dock at the Caribbean port of Moín to allow larger fuel-carrying ships to enter.

Making room for these larger boats is an effort to reduce boat traffic entering the port and make space for “other economic activities,” said a statement from RECOPE.

The refinery estimates that allowing ships carrying up to 60,000 metric tons of oil to enter the port will save $4.5 million per year. Sediment deposits now prohibit ships carrying more than 30,000 metric tons of petroleum from docking.

The project, which is expected to be completed by January 2008, was planned to avoid paralyzing the port's normal activities; the dragging is being done in areas that are out of use, the statement said.