Top Mechanical Dredging

 

Mechanical dredging refers to digging or excavating sediment from a waterbody, in contrast to hydraulic dredging that pumps sediment from a waterbody.  Typically, mechanical dredging is done by a backhoe, excavator, dragline, or crane of some type.  Excavators, or backhoes as commonly referred to as, have really become the industry standard for most inland mechanical dredging projects.  Draglines are cranes equipped with special buckets that can “thrown” and retrieved with cables to remove sediment.  Draglines are still efficient in many mining applications but have largely been replaced by modern excavators that are more precise and efficient - Ship Assist.

Clamshell dredging is another type of mechanical dredging in which a bucket is lowered straight down to the bottom where it then squeezes together to grab sediment to raise to the surface. Often the excavator can load or dispose of material without having to reposition.  Furthermore, the excavator can place wet, sloppy sediment away from the machine so that you can continue to work while sediment dewaters off to the side.  Long reach excavators are not as efficient or stable with grading projects and standard earth moving so they are a specialized piece that you typically see within a certain type of project.  Mats or matting systems can be used to traverse over and within the lake, pond, or wetland without sinking in the mud - Suction Dredging.

Unlike traditional excavators, the track system is replaced with a large, tracked pontoon on each side.  The tracked pontoons allow the excavator to travel and dig on land, mud, or water.  The excavator is able to relay sediment to the shoreline, load a barge, or assist a hydraulic dredge.  Amphibious excavators are available in any sized excavator. Long reach excavators are best suited to mount on a barge so that you can reach far enough away from the barge and relay material to another barge or the disposal area.  Dredgers have an engine that powers a hydraulic pump that supplies fluid to move the boom, or arm, and bucket into position to scoop up muck and sediment.  For more information please visit our site https://www.Pacificmaritimegroup.com/