USA: DSC Receives Order for New Overburden Dredge from Mosaic

Earlier this month, Mosaic placed an order for a new custom DSC Marlin Class underwater pump dredge that will replace the Company’s existing dredge. Mosaic is the world’s leading producer and marketer of concentrated phosphate and potash, two primary nutrients required to grow the food the world needs. Located in Duette, FL, Mosaic’s Wingate facility mines and processes phosphate rock, which is the raw material for phosphate fertilizer production.

With an estimated 30 years of life available for the Wingate facility, Mosaic began evaluating their existing assets to meet their mission statement and core values.

Karen Swager, Mine Manager for the Wingate facility, commented; “as the worldwide demand for food increases, Mosaic has the opportunity to increase throughput of phosphate rock (the main ingredient for crop nutrients) to meet this demand.”

Mosaic’s business engages in every phase of crop nutrition development, from the mining of resources to the production of crop nutrients, feed and industrial products for customers around the globe. Their customer base includes wholesalers, retail dealers, and individual growers in more than 40 countries.

With many years of reserves available to mine at the Wingate facility, Mosaic embarked on a project to turnaround existing mining equipment to meet the life of the facility. During Mosaic’s research to overhaul the existing overburden dredge, they determined the repair costs to the existing dredge was substantial and began evaluating replacement with a new dredge.

Swager mentioned, “Our existing dredging equipment uses older technology and we determined replacing the 30 year old overburden dredge was the most cost effective approach”. With the existing overburden dredge reaching its useful life, Mosaic worked with DSC on the design parameters, equipment selections, safety features, and accessories for the dredge that would allow for a sustainable asset.

The new overburden dredge will include modern electric motors allowing for the dredge to operate with a higher degree of efficiency, thus reducing energy demand. A major theme throughout the dredge design discussions was sustainable features, meeting the worldwide mission of “Going Green”. The dredge will feature noise abatement devices, increased personnel safety features, and advanced monitoring systems. “We need to take every opportunity to decrease a risk exposure to our personnel. One example is the power up/down spud system that will be installed on the dredge. This system will greatly diminish personnel having to interact with the spud movement and repining requirement of a conventional spud system”, commented Swager. The dredge will meet MSHA requirements and provide an increased environment for Mosaic’s neighbors as well as their personnel.

The DSC dredge will be a Marlin Class dredge featuring an underwater pump and 26” slurry piping. The dredge will also include a spud carriage system allowing for 25’ of advancement/retraction; another efficient tool necessary to meet the requirements of Mosaic.

Headquartered in Plymouth, MN, Mosaic employs approximately 7,400 people in eight countries. DSC Dredge LLC has major manufacturing facilities located in Reserve, LA, Poplarville, MS, and Greenbush, MI.

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Dredging Today Staff, November 16, 2011; Image: dscdredge