Clean-up (contamination)

Dredging of shipping channels and harbor entrances

The siltation of shipping channels and harbor entrances is a natural process involving the movement of large quantities of sediment along the coast. We serve many regular clients requiring channel dredging in some cases, multiple times a year.

Material dredged from shipping channels is typically relocated further along the coast (sediment bypassing)  in other instances, it is transported offshore and deposited at an approved disposal site.

Harbor dredging

Dredging sediment within the harbor, along quays and in basins is also necessary to maintain required depths. However, harbor sediment is often contaminated and cannot be disposed of at sea.

In such cases, the material is carefully excavated using specialized environmental buckets and transported to approved disposal sites, where it is either offloaded onto trucks or pumped directly into the storage area.

Capacity

For many years, we have focused on optimizing our dredgers for operation in urban harbors and channels. This involves meeting strict requirements regarding noise, the working environment, and safety, as well as ensuring the ability to maneuver quickly and efficiently so that harbor operations can continue while dredging work is underway.

DBB operates a large fleet comprising dredgers, dredging pontoons, specialized environmental buckets, disposal pumps, bubble curtains, split-hopper barges, and tugboats.

Furthermore, all our vessels are equipped with the PDS dredging system. In addition to the PDS dredging system, we also operate two units of PDS BargeVision systems. BargeVision is installed on the dredger, enabling the operator to monitor and document their work in real-time.

This ensures that the dredging operation stays within the required tolerances.  When dealing with contaminated material destined for onshore disposal, excavating more than necessary can be a costly affair, so meeting tolerances as precisely as possible offers significant savings for the client.