The Ministry of Public Works awarded more than $700,000 in contracts to carry out a channel widening study, according to notices published yesterday in the Official Gazette.

Brunel Engineering Consultants were awarded a $367,648 contract to carry out geotechnical investigation works, while Stantec Consulting International were awarded a $186,836 contract for hydrographic modelling works.

The third contract, valued at $159,832, was awarded to Canadian Seabed Research Ltd to carry out bathymetric survey works.

Government announced in January that it was investigating ways in which narrow channels can be widened to enable mega-cruise ships to visit, and had ordered an Environmental Impact Study to determine which channels are suitable for widening.

According to a spokeswoman, the options are to dredge and widen the North Channel, which will involve dredging and removal of coral reefs, extensive dredging of the South Channel and realignment of the South Channel, which also involves major dredging. The Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce however said none of the options were fitting.

Government recently concluded a series of three town hall meetings on the possibility of widening the channel.

The Ministry of Public Works also awarded two contracts in connection with the Tynes Bay Waste-to-Energy facility. Metso Minerals Industries was awarded $194,000 for a bulky shear rebuild, while ICE AG was awarded $94,038 to replace superheater drain lines at the facility.

Technics Auto Centre was awarded a $135,500 contract by Public Works to provide two new trucks.

The Ministry of Home Affairs awarded Bendell Design a $67,012 contract to produce a draft Bermuda Building Code 2014.

And the Cabinet Office awarded The Royal Gazette a contract valued at approximately $115,000 to publish the Official Gazette.

All of the contracts were awarded following a tendering process except for the bulky shear rebuild, which was listed as sole sourced.