Substantial investment has been made in the dredge, which started on Monday and is being carried out by Jenkins Marine.

Once the dredging is complete the marina, home to international sailing events including Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, will have safeguarded its ability to accommodate large boats for the next three years.

It will have a depth of up to 7.5m during high tides and a minimum of 3.5m even in low spring tides.

Managing director, Jon Pridham, said: ‘We are one of the only marinas on the Isle of Wight that can cater for such large boats and it’s important for us to maintain the right environment for them.

‘This dredge will allow us to do just that and continue to provide the very best destination for the 130,000 sailors who visit us each year.’

The work, which is expected to take three to four weeks, is beginning in the north basin and working towards the south basin to minimise disruption to bertholders and visitors.

Walcon Marine & Mackley’s Civil Engineering have been involved in the project, temporarily removing piles & pontoons to allow built up sedimentation underneath them to be removed.

Up to 15,000m3 of silt are expected to be removed.