Dredging
Considerations
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his past year, we have seen
dredging move into the spotlight as one of the businesses required by many to
survive in their marina operations In normal situations we call in the dredging
crews when we are expanding or modifying, when we have sediment buildup as a
result of river current or wave action or when the water levels are down some.
The spring of 2000 was shocking to
many as the water was so extremely low that many of the boaters were afraid to
even plan to launch for this boating season. It looks as if dredging companys
are going to stay very busy for at least another season just dealing with the
low water situation.
This article is an attempt to
provide some food for thought when considering the right contractor for your
dredging project.
The first consideration is just
which type of dredging is best suited for your project? The use of a dragline
system or hydraulic excavator from a barge or shore, are two of the most
common.
When can you actually get permits
in place to complete your work?
Do you know for sure what the type
of material is on the bottom in all areas of your marina?
Can it be completed from the shore
with minimal disruption to the landscape or is it best to work from a barge?
The dredging systems being compared
in this article both have their good points and in some cases the other system
is better for the job.
The Hydraulic Excavator (HiHo)
dredging system is only as good as the operator, the equipment and the capacity
of the barge containers to which the material is being placed.
Excavators with changeable buckets
also come in regular or long arm versions depending on the depth to be achieved
from the barge or from shore. The operator can quickly and accurately excavate
materials from the bottom, and place it into containers on the barge platform.
Once loaded, the operator can move to a position where the load can be
transferred to waiting trucks to completely remove from site. The time to
complete this cycle is dependant on the distance between the dredging location
and the offloading location. In the
case of a channel, the operator may simply side cast the materials to a
position in the side where preferred.
Of course the
first thing that comes to mind, is who is the dredging contractor that lives and
operates their business closest to you?
If it works out that they have the best
system for the job at the best price, that’s perfect. Put them to work. If that
is not the case, read on.
It is very
important to research the contractor’s qualifications that are available. The
easiest way to do that is to take a look at the projects previously completed
by the dredging company. Ask for references that you may contact. Take time to
find out how old is the equipment to be used at your location? The older the
equipment used increases the chance that, you experience more down time, more
potential hydraulic, diesel and engine oil leakage into harbor area.
Older equipment
usually has a reduced capacity as well as slower speed to excavate.
Be sure that this is reflected in the hourly
rate. Only consider a contractor that is committed to meet all Ministry of
Labor Health and Safety requirements. Your company or your municipality is
responsible to ensure those contractors working for you are in compliance.
Where the project is a candidate for partial
municipal, provincial, or federal funding, the dredge employed must meet the
requirements of the “Floating Plant Clause”.
Your dredging contractor will be able to provide you proof of
certification. Also very important to ask, is your potential contractor able to
work through the winter months, weather permitting. Working in the winter is
the least disruptive time of year for boating and your area’s tourism in
general. Is your contractor qualified to quote on upgrades and repairs to your
shoreline and concrete docking systems? As we are going for more depth, we are
also creating potential situations where the existing dock foundations are
being undermined and therefore in danger of failure. Be sure to spent time with
your contractors and discuss all of the potential issues.
Most reputable
dredging contractors are able to provide you with the proper dredging system
for your specific marina project. With this in mind I will do a comparison the
two most efficient dredging systems employed by marinas today.
Dredging Excavator
from Barge ·
Extremely
strong down pressure and digging power ·
Excellent
in all bottom conditions ·
Continuous
depth accuracy ·
Materials
pre-drain on barge prior to trucking. ·
Bucket
enters the water every 10 to 15 seconds ·
Potential ability to move up to 300 yards per
hour. ·
Difficult
to transport to inland waterways and small lakes
Dragline Dredging from Shore
It is not uncommon to select a contractor and then find that they are
not meeting your goals. For whatever reason, it is better to hire the right
company for the job the first time. The lowest hourly rate or job
estimate/quote may be all smoke and mirrors to get management or council
approval. The real embarrassment comes when the job turns into a “cash for
life” program for the contractor.
Consider contractors that are members of the
Ontario Marina Operators Association. These business share with you the strong
commitment maintain high standards as we do.
I hope the
pointers in this article are helpful when considering your next dredging
project.
We invite your further
questions or calls for a quotation on your future project. Please take time to
visit our website
http:// www.accudredge.com/
John Eagleson
Email solutions@accudredge.com
Toll free
1-888-797-5192