The Damen’s DOP200 submersible dredge pump was recently used at a sluice cleanup project in Wielsbeke, Belgium.
“The new sluice consisted of a narrow building pit, which had been divided into 9 separate sections. This compartmentation greatly reduces the size of construction material which can be used,” said Damen in its announcement.
The DOP200 was connected by a chain spread to a tele-crane already available on location. A separate diesel-hydraulic power pack was brought in to power the pump.
According to Damen, the pump was fitted out with a jet water assisted sand mining head first; with this mining head the bulk of the bottom material has been pumped out.
The bottom of the pit was to be finished well leveled at -9m.
As a result, after bulk mining, the suction head has been exchanged into a bed leveler for fully cleaning the bottom of the pit. This jet water assisted head ensures that the bottom of the pit is well equalized.
In total, some 5.000m³ of soil has been removed in 3 weeks’ time.