The Bureau of Reclamation of the US Department of Interior has selected Ellicott Dredges’ newest and most versatile dredge, the 860SL, to maintain settling basins on the lower Colorado River near Yuma, Arizona. The dredge will use biodegradable oil, an engine certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and a fully self-contained system environmentally sound for water, air, and noise pollution.

Series 860SL Swinging Dragon™ Dredge

This dredge is operable in a wide range of conditions from cold to hot climates, narrow creeks or channels, as a swinging ladder dredge, or in open water in conventional swing mode.

Some highlights of this state-of-the-art Ellicott 860SL dredger include:

• Capable of operating in either Swinging Ladder or Conventional dredge mode
• 800 HP (600 KW) Caterpillar C27 diesel engine
• 14″x14″ (350 mm X 356 mm) Ellicott Pump
• 30 ft. (9 m) dredging
• Ergonomic electronic controls and automation system in the large operator’s cab
• Full dredge position monitoring system
• Remote booster controlled directly from the dredge operator’s cab.
• Anchor Booms for self reset of anchors increasing dredge efficiency
• Spud carriage increasing dredge efficiency

The contract has a value of over $3mm, and will be completed in 2011. Along with the dredge, Ellicott will be supplying two boosters, 20,000 ft. of pipeline, and a dredge tender.

The Bureau of Reclamation is responsible for scheduling Colorado River water deliveries in Arizona, California, and Mexico serving over 750,000 people and more than 1 million acres of commercial agriculture. It manages the Colorado River from Davis Dam at the Nevada-Arizona border to the US border with Mexico.

Source: Ellicottdredge