Mechanical Dredge Services

Mechanical clamshell dredges are floating platforms that house a heavy duty cycle crane that uses a wire rope suspended bucket to excavate the sea bottom. The dredge locates itself in position during dredging operations by lowering retractable spud poles to the sea bottom. Excavated material is loaded into barges (scows) for transportation by tugs to a disposal area.This method is most suited to the excavation of loose materials in restrictive areas, working around obstacles and where disposal is beyond normal direct pumping distances. Generally dredged material will be disposed of in an ocean site being released from the barges through opening in the bottom of the hull. If the material is required to be disposed of in an upland site then a barge unloader may be used to pump material out of the barges.