USCG Corona Del Mar Dredging Maintenance
Pacific Dredge & Construction (PDC) was proud to step up when needed by the United States Coast Guard for a mechanical dredging maintenance project at the USCG station in Corona Del Mar, Newport Beach, California. A team of dredging specialists was forced into quick action to accommodate the service branch of the U.S. Armed Forces responsible for maritime law enforcement.
What Does Dredging Do?
Dredging is the process of removing accumulated sand, mud and silt from the bottom or banks of waterways. PDC uses specialized professional dredging equipment such as a clamshell bucket attached to an excavator or crane, and suction pumps to remove these accumulated sediments and accompanying debris. The sediment is then transported to another location like offshore for complete disposal, or in-or-near harbor areas which is used for a variety of purposes and applications. For this particular project, PDC dredged the waterway surrounding the USCG station in Newport Beach, California.
PDC Works Quickly to Service USCG Station
PDC was awarded the maintenance dredging project for the USCG station for the summer of 2020. PDC worked in communication with the Coast Guard to determine a time to complete the job that would not interfere with their duties and operations.
Scheduling and timing challenges forced PDC into the position of performing the dredging project within a month, being notified of the project award. The dredging work took place while the Coast Guard’s commissioned cutter vessel was deployed offshore.
To get the job done quickly and efficiently, PDC called “Horton”, a 120-foot long barge using hydraulic spuds to carry the Long Reach excavator Liebherr 944 that includes a 3.5 cubic yard cable arm environmental clamshell bucket. The excavator features powerful Cummins engines that are rated Tier III, making it compliant with all environmental regulation.
The project by the industry leaders at PDC was developed under the Regional General Permit 54 (RGP54). Dredging depths were to -10 MLLW with two feet of over-depth.
‘Thing 1’ Called In For Sediment Disposal
PDC utilized the services of “Thing 1,” a 300 cubic yard split-hull hopper scow barge to dispose of the dredged sediments at the USCG station in Corona Del Mar. The scow is a modern technological wonder, complete with GPS and real-time tracking to comply with the California Coastal Commission and other applicable regulatory agency requirements for dredging projects.
“Thing 1” was towed offshore with Pacific Tugboat’s reliable tug “Sammy G” to LA-3 offshore disposal area. The mechanism is remotely activated by a deckhand to open up the scow in half, and the sediment is disposed of.
Because the PDC dredging rigs had to come in and out of the Newport Beach Harbor several times throughout the project, the crew kept in close contact with USCG officials helping to facilitate the dredging job.
Maritime Dredging Services at Pacific Dredging
The dredging project at the United States Coast Guard station in Del Mar is a prime example of the professionalism and hard work that Pacific Dredge & Construction puts into every mechanical dredging project. This experienced crew went above and beyond to serve this very important client in record time with the same quality of work and customer service. PDC continues to be dedicated to offering professional dredging services on the Pacific Coast.
Pacific Dredge & Construction is a full-service dredging company using state-of-the-art equipment and processes operated by professional crews of experienced, skilled technicians. To learn more about the wide range of dredging services for high volume dredging and towing, contact the industry leaders at Pacific Dredge & Construction today.