If you’re considering dredging, there are a significant number of options to choose from. There are also a number of obstacles and difficulties that pop up in any project. The first place to start is with a marine dredging consultant. There are many benefits to dredging, and your consultant will walk you through the whole process, make sure you don’t forget about any details, and help your project to succeed with the fewest surprises.
Dredging is used to create, deepen and/or widen a channel, berth, harbor or another waterway. Dredging allows larger vessels access to piers and berths, thus expanding markets. Dredging can make waterborne transportation more efficient and plays a vital role in the economic development and environmental aspect of most countries in the world. Beaches suffering from erosion can be replenished by the use of a dredge. Marshes can be created by hydraulically placing dredged material, thus improving the aquatic habitat of many species.
Dredging removes sand, sediments, silts, fines and sludge from the bottom of any waterborne environment. The material is then removed via the dredge and pumped or mechanically moved to a disposal site through pipelines or barges.
So what do you look for when hiring a marine dredging consultant? If you don’t know much about dredging, how would you know if the consultant or company you’re looking at is any good? Here are 5 things to look for that will help you make the right choice.
Dredging Experience Matters
A lot of problems can pop-up with dredging. That’s not to scare you, it’s just a reality. You can kick up unwanted contaminants, your dredging equipment may not be able to handle the whole job, and you need to protect wildlife habitats during the process
Check out their Portfolio
Any reputable company or consultant will have a portfolio of work they can show you. What you’ll want to look for is a range of projects and their outcomes. If the firm only has a few projects that are very narrow in scope, you’ll want to make sure this is exactly the type of scope you’re looking for. If it’s not, they may not have the experience needed to handle your dredging project.
Talk to References
The marine dredging consultant should be able to provide a few clients you can talk to about the project. These clients will be able to give you a real good look at the entire process. A few questions you may want to consider asking:
Equipment Matters
Not all dredging is created equally. Different equipment is needed for different types of dredging. We’ve touched a bit on this in the past by pointing out the differences between mechanical and hydraulic dredging.
Find out the various options that are available for your dredging project. One size doesn’t fit all. Some methods of dredging are better than others. There’s a big difference between a backhoe on a barge and a high-tech hydraulic vacuum.
Common Types of Dredging Projects
Maintenance Dredging, New Work Dredging, Lake Dredging, River Dredging, Bay Dredging, Beach Dredging, Pond Dredging, Harbor Dredging, Canal Dredging, Sand Dredging, Mud Dredging, Silt Dredging, Lagoon Dredging, Mine Tailings, Marsh Creation, Beach Nourishment, Beach Replenishment, Levee Construction, LNG Facility Dredging, Bucket Dredging, Clamshell Dredging, Hydraulic Dredging, Cutter Suction Dredging, Pump Dredging, Portable Dredging, Marina Dredging, Hydraulic Unloading, Rehandling, Channel Dredging, Pier Dredging, Levee Construction, Fill Placement, Scow Pumpout, Wetlands Creation, Wetlands Restoration, Marsh Restoration, Removal of Unsuitable Material, Clay Dredging, Construction Dredging, Refinery Dredging, Land Reclamation, Contaminant Remediation Dredging, Dredging for Flood Prevention, Maintenance Dredging, Land Reclamation Dredging, Marina Dredging, Beach & Beach Nourishment Dredging, Sand Dredging, Mud Dredging, Silt Dredging, Lagoon Dredging
When hiring a marine dredging consultant, make sure you feel comfortable with all the above points. Ask questions, be involved, and you’ll ultimately be able to make the right choice. If you have any questions about the dredging process, don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll do our best to help you out.
