Ocean Dredges First Time in Mexico

Ocean Dredging DSM Ocean Inc. won a contract to dredge the Port of Dos Bocas on the east coast of Mexico – its first project outside Canada. Along with its Mexican partner Dragados del Golfo Ocean will dredge the harbor beginning November 1.

A dozen Ocean employees will dredge more than 60 days with the 1180-cubic-meter (1543-cubic-yard) trailing suction hopper dredge Ocean Traverse Nord which traveled about 20 days to reach Mexico. Project Director Sylvain Babineau will manger the project for Océan and Dredge Captain Paul Drouin will lead the Ocean Traverse Nord.

The dredge will remove 250000 cubic meters (327000 cubic yards) of sediment and the hydraulic loading system of the Ocean Traverse Nord will place the sediment 500 meters (1640 feet) from the dredge site. Ocean’s contract with the port requires the sediments to be discharged on port ground. After placement the dredged sediment will then be managed by Dragodos del Golfo which will spread the sediment across the bank.

The new 64-meter-long (210-foot) dredge is the largest ever built in Eastern Canada. It was built by Industries Océan shipyard at Isle-aux-Coudres for $25 million and can dredge to a depth of 30 meters (98 feet) with a pumping capacity of 5500 cubic meters (7184 cubic yards) per hour. It is powered by two omni type Z-drive propellers and two engines with 1000 hp each.

See related article Ocean Christens the Océan Traverse Nord Split Hopper Dredge IDR September/October 2012.