Dredge Merritt Performs Maintenance in North Carolina Inlet

The Corps dredge Merritt completed maintenance work at an inlet in North Carolina on September 3.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sidecast dredge Merritt did maintenance dredging at Lockwoods Folly Inlet in North Carolina. The project was completed on September 3.
The Lockwoods Folly Inlet Project was authorized as a federal navigation project in 1890. The authorized dimensions are 8 feet deep and 150 feet wide. The inlet was last dredged in May 2016 using non-federal funds. The project has not been included in a president’s budget since 2005 and last received federal funding in 2013 through Hurricane Sandy emergency supplemental funds. The Wilmington District said there are no federal funds available for maintenance dredging activities in the area and the work of the dredge Merritt is done outside of the federally authorized projects. 

Specifications: Corps Dredge Merritt
Propulsion Equipment: Main Engines- 2 ea. CAT 3406E 450 HP ea. total 900 HP @ 1800 RPM; reduction Gear- 3:1 Twin Disc MG 5114 (Deep Case); and propellers- 2 ea. 4-blade 42-inch d x 31-inch pitch 4-inch shaft
Pumping Equipment: pumps two each Dredge Masters HDM-32-12×10 10” discharges into 12” discharge; pump engines 2 each CAT 3304T 160 HP; dredging depth 6 feet to 25 feet.
Auxiliary Power: Generators – 2 each -105 KW.   Powered by CAT 3304T engines. 
Derrick:  Driven by electric hydraulic pump approximately 6-ton lifting capacity at typical operating boom angle. 

Eric McCafferty keeps his eye on the boundaries of the
channel onboard the Corps sidecast dredge Merritt
at Lockwoods Folly Inlet near Holden Beach in North
Carolina on August 24. The channel is expected to be
cleared of material by early September. (USACE photo
by Hank Heusinkveld)