Dredging is the excavation of material from a water environment. It may be done for a variety of reasons.
Duncan Seawall recently completed an 18 month, 200,000 cubic-yard hydraulic dredging project for Sawgrass Lake in St. Petersburg. The sensitive project involved contaminated sediment.
Beach Drive north of the Vinoy Renaissance would be ankle deep in sand had it not been for dredging. Likewise, much of the area around the Albert Whitted Airport is built on dredged land.
Coastal land reclamation occurs when new land is artificially added to the coastline by importing dirt or dredging existing useable land from the water. This allows cities to expand their industrial zones, build ports, or add recreational amenities such as wetland parks, greenways and leisure gardens. This type of dredging is often done using a trailing suction hopper dredger that works similarly to a vacuum cleaner. It is also used by law enforcement agencies to recover evidence and corpses from the bottom of rivers or canals.
Reclaimed water is a final product of advanced wastewater treatment that contains nitrogen and phosphorous elements that work as nutrients to enhance lawn and ornamental plant health, extending the life of these resources. It takes the discharge of six households worth of wastewater to produce enough reclaimed water to supply one household with irrigation water. This is a limited resource and city officials have the ability to limit supply in times of drought.
Dredging is the excavation of material from a water environment for a variety of reasons. This includes improving or maintaining navigable channels; reshaping coastlines; reclaiming land for development or environmental protection; recovering mineral deposits or marine life of commercial value; and other purposes. This is typically done by a specialist floating plant called a dredger.
Other dredging activities include maintenance dredging to remove non-natural material from the bottoms of rivers, canals, harbors and other docks and wharves. This can be carried out by a trailing suction hopper dredge. Law enforcement agencies sometimes use a dredger to recover evidence or corpses from beneath the water.
Contaminant remediation is also carried out to reclaim areas affected by chemical spills or contaminated soil from industrial waste, sewage sludge and decayed material like wilted plants. Hydraulic dredging is a refined and highly efficient aquatic dredging method that involves underwater soil removal using a powerful hydraulic pump to vacuum up sediments from a waterbody floor.
Marine excavation services involve removing subaqueous materials like silt, gravel, shells, and marine debris. It’s also used to keep oceans and ports navigable, support marine protection and land reclamation, and construct islands.
The work is performed with a cutter suction dredge, a large floating device that’s designed for underwater excavation. The process involves four steps: slackening the material, moving it to the surface of water, transportation, and disposal.
The archaeological team excavated a series of trenches on the seabed using the dredge, uncovering wooden remains from the ship’s hull and sections of bronze furniture, including a throne seat and a chest, along with fragments of glass, iron, and ceramic objects. The team also found a variety of metal artifacts, including pieces of jewelry and a bronze cannon. The discovery was the first systematic archaeological excavation of the site, relying on a precise, multi-dimensional map created by a robotic survey.
Dredging is an essential maintenance service to keep waterways in their proper depths. Over time, sediment can build up and clog the waterway, making it impossible for boats to access or leave the area. During the dredging process, workers will remove this sediment and transport it to an approved, offsite disposal location.
There are many reasons why you might need dredging services. For example, capital dredging is performed to create a new port facility, berth or channel, and deepen existing ones in order to accommodate larger ships. This type of dredging usually requires a cutter suction dredge or a trailing suction hopper dredge.
Land reclamation is another reason to dredge. By mining sand, clay or rock from the seabed and reusing it for construction purposes, companies can reduce their need to import these materials. This type of dredging is typically done with a large trailing suction hopper dredge.
Gulf & Bay Dock Works, LLC is the best dredge and dock repair business proudly serving local marinas, condominiums, and residential clients in the St. Petersburg area.