In 2017, a petrochemical customer approached Ellicott Dredges about building a customized electric bucketwheel dredge.
The customized dredge had to be designed to withstand desert-like conditions, the Baltimore-based builder of medium sized cutter suction dredges said in its announcement.
The most significant challenge facing the team from Ellicott was the ability to transport a 1MM lb. (453,592.3 kg) dredge halfway around the world. During the beginning stages of the project, a team from Ellicott’s Major Projects division sprang into action and discovered a solution to the problem.
“ Thanks to some creative thinking, they decided to design and build a dredge that was capable of being disassembled, easily transported over road and sea, and reassembled at the customer’s project site ,” Ellicott said.
The new customized dredge is equipped with Ellicott’s patented Dual-Wheel Excavator (DWE) 94 600HP cutter engine.
Due to the nature of work that’s involved the equipment on board the dredge is suitable for a highly corrosive environment.
After spending several months assembling the customized electric Bucketwheel dredge and undergoing testing, the team from Ellicott Dredges has announced that the final stages of construction are now complete.
In May, a crew from Ellicott Dredges completed disassembly of the dredge. Various dredge sections and components were shipped breakbulk and crated in containers and then placed on a vessel that set sail for delivery from the Port of Baltimore.