Ellicott Dredges has just announced that they completed the refurbishment of the Great Lakes Dredge & Dock’s (GLDD) cutter suction dredger Commodore, a non-Ellicott dredge.
After extensive flood damage, GLDD hired Ellicott to refurbish and modernize the Commodore, including hydraulics, electric controls and the booster pump.
“One of the main improvements was a comprehensive upgrade to the Commodore’s hydraulic system. The cutter drive system was upgraded to 130 HP (97 kW) with the same RPM as the current system. This increases the dredge’s efficiency, allowing it to cut harder and more compact materials. The proportional valves were also replaced and integrated into the dredger’s new control system,” Ellicott said in its release.
Another improvement was the complete overhaul of the control systems. All old electric controls and circuits were removed and replaced with a more modern system.
The new system is more efficient and allows for easier troubleshooting and superior integration, according to the company.
A more ergonomic chair was added to increase operator comfort, and the dash was replaced with a larger touch screen display for easier operation.
In addition to hydraulic and control system upgrades, Ellicott integrated the booster pump into the cab dashboard.
This allows the operator to control the booster and monitor the suction pressure and discharge pressure from the cab.