DSC Delivers Dredges to Africa and Canada
DSC Dredge LLC will deliver three cutter suction dredges to customers in Nigeria Republic of Congo and Canada.
A Nigerian contractor has placed orders for 18-in. and 24-in. Marlin Class dredges with 23-meter (75-feet) digging depth capabilities. These two dredges will be delivered in the first quarter of 2015.
In other recent deliveries DSC shipped a new 18-in. Marlin Class dredge with 23-meter digging depth capability and an 18-in. floating booster station to a separate Nigerian customer as a repeat order.
As the electric power grid in Nigeria is not stable all the Marlin Class dredges in operation there are diesel. The 18-inch Marlin has 1665 Caterpillar total horsepower with a Metso 18-inch submersible dredge pump with 44-inch impeller.
The standard DSC dredge control system provides electronic operation of the pump engagement and all hydraulic speeds and directions. Hydraulic controls are ramped to prevent jarring when controls are started stopped or reversed. The standard dredge control system records and displays the operating hours of all major dredge systems including major equipment hours dredge pump cutter swing/positioning winches stern winch and ladder winch. This data is useful for servicing and for managing dredge utilization.
In addition all DSC Marlin Class dredges are outfitted with the DSC Maximizer system as standard. DSC’s maximizer valve is designed to assist an operator in achieving maximum production while reducing the chance of line plugging. It incorporates a pneumatically controlled butterfly valve that is plumbed into the suction of the dredge. This system is automated to respond to suction problems including vacuum (differential pressure) and discharge pressure. The desired points to activate the suction valve can be adjusted through the PLC in order to maximize its productive use.
The 18-inch Marlin is pumping on 1500 meters (4920 feet) distance for the current project and the 24-inch Marlin will be pumping in excess of 2500 meters (8200 feet) distance.
DSC also delivered a Shark Class dredge to the Republic of Congo with a second Shark dredge on order to ship to the same location in several months. DSC is providing this contractor with workboats boosters and 18-in. HDPE pipeline as well.
The Shark Class dredges 14-meter (50-foot) digging depth capability and have a total of 1575 Caterpillar total horsepower. The hull mounted Metso pumps are 18 inches with 40-inch impellers. On the current projects in the Congo they will be pumping 1500 meters (4920 feet) distance.
In addition serving the deep-digging segment of the African market DSC also provides Nigerian contractors with small dredge solutions. A new Wolverine Class dredge with 7.5-meter (24-foot) digging depth was delivered to Nigeria in the third quarter of 2014. A 10-in. Wolverine with a 10-meter (32.8-foot) digging depth is being shipped with a booster pump to Lagos Port Nigeria.
The Wolverine dredge will be mining sharp sand from the river in Nigeria. The sand is used for road construction land reclamation and for making concrete. The Wolverine has 35-foot digging depth capability and features a 10-inch Metso hull mounted dredge pump and is powered by a Caterpillar C13 diesel engine rated 440 horsepower.
In the oil fields in Alberta Canada a major oil company just took delivery of a customdesigned electric shore-powered Shark Class dredge with a second identical unit in the final testing stages prior to delivery.
