VIDEO: Backhoe Dredger “Optimus” at Work

Wasa Dredging recently completed the blasting and dredging works of Pietarsaari Port. All of the company’s equipment was used in different phases during the project.

The port was dredged to -12,8 m. The project consisted of about 60 000 m³ of underwater blasting, dredging of 200 000 m³ of blasted rock and 563 000 m³ hard soil/moraine.

Backhoe dredger “Hector”, a combined drilling platform/backhoe dredger featuring a Hitatchi EX2500 excavator, started the project and “Optimus”, a specialized backhoe dredger of Wasa Dredging model BHD18000, wrapped up the project during the summer and fall of 2014.

Pietarsaari was the first project for the massive dredger. This dredging machine is capable of dredging down to -17 m using a 18-22 m³ bucket and can with a special configuration go down to a max depth of -29 m. The dredger features Hitatchi EX3600 excavator.