GUY SAYS . . .
Sand dredging isn’t just about relocating material—it’s a critical tool for coastal protection and restoration. Without it, many of the world’s most iconic beaches, ports, and waterfront communities wouldn’t exist as they do today. Coastal erosion is relentless, and dredging helps restore what nature takes away.
Beach Replenishment: Keeping the Shoreline in Place
One of the most common uses of sand dredging is beach nourishment, a process that replaces sand lost due to erosion. This involves dredging sand from offshore sources, riverbeds, or designated sandbanks and pumping it back onto the beach. The result?
Stronger storm protection: A wide, well-maintained beach acts as a buffer against storm surges and rising tides.
Tourism and recreation: Coastal towns rely on beaches to draw visitors and keep local economies thriving.
Ecosystem preservation: Many coastal species depend on stable shorelines for nesting and habitat.
Erosion Control: Fighting the Constant Battle
Nature never stops moving, and neither does sediment. Waves, currents, and even human activity continuously shift sand away from where it’s needed. Without dredging, erosion can:
• Narrow beaches, making them more vulnerable to storms.
• Undermine coastal structures, roads, and properties.
• Reduce the depth of harbors and navigation channels, impacting shipping and fishing industries.
Dredging counteracts these effects by keeping sand where it belongs, ensuring long-term coastal stability.
It’s not just beaches that benefit from dredging—ports, marinas, and shipping channels rely on it to stay operational. Sediment buildup can make waterways too shallow for vessels to pass, leading to economic losses and navigational hazards. Regular dredging keeps:
Ports open for business: Global trade depends on deep, navigable shipping lanes.
Marinas accessible: Boaters and commercial vessels need safe entry points.
Waterfront infrastructure protected: Preventing silting around docks and piers.
Dredging isn’t just scooping up sand and dumping it somewhere else—it’s a precise operation that requires the right equipment for the job.
Horizontal Cutter Dredges: Ideal for shallow water applications, providing an efficient way to maintain small harbors, lakes, and reservoirs.
Hydraulic Dredging: Moves sediment as a slurry through pipelines, minimizing environmental impact while maximizing efficiency.
Sustainable Dredging: Protecting the Environment
Done correctly, dredging doesn’t just move sediment—it works with nature to enhance coastal resilience. Sustainable dredging practices ensure that:
Ecosystems remain intact: Careful sediment placement helps restore wetlands, reefs, and underwater habitats.
Water quality is maintained: Avoiding excessive turbidity and minimizing impact on marine life.
Regulations are met: Compliance with environmental laws ensures responsible dredging operations.
Dredging: The Key to Coastal Resilience
The world’s coastlines are constantly changing, but dredging is what keeps them stable, functional, and protected. Whether it’s restoring a beach, maintaining a harbor, or reinforcing shorelines, dredging plays a critical role in shaping and preserving coastal infrastructure.
At VMI Dredges, we understand the importance of efficient, high-performance dredging equipment to get the job done right. Whether you’re tackling beach nourishment, erosion control, or waterway maintenance, the right dredge makes all the difference.
Pat Sumpter, Sales Manager, 918-225-7000, Ext. 12
www.vmidredges.com • sales@vmidredges.com
Routine dredging isn’t just about depth. It prevents sediment buildup, improves water quality, and keeps waterways flowing!
How often do you schedule maintenance dredging for your projects? Drop your answer below!
#Dredging #WaterManagement #VMIDredging Equipment #DidYouKnow #CleanWaterways #SedimentControl
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Pat Sumpter, Sales Manager, 918-225-7000, Ext. 12
www.vmidredges.com • sales@vmidredges.com
Check out this classic VMI dredge build from back in the day! 💙 This powerhouse was designed to tackle tough dredging projects with precision and efficiency just like our modern horizontal dredges and cutter suction dredges today.
VMI pump/dredge/pipe solves health hazard problems in Colombia
The city municipal government (EM-Cali) of Cali, in the Central American Country of Colombia was recently faced with a serious wastewater health hazard, when two flood control lagoons within the city boundaries were filled with raw sewage as a result of flooding combined with open trench sewage canals surrounding the area.
The lagoons covered a 35 hectare area and to intensify matters, many of the poverty striken residents of the city had established make-shift dwellings on the edges of the lagoons. This situation demanded immediate attention and the city turned to the environmental engineering firm Ingesam Ltd., headed by Mauricio Guerrero, to research a solution. It was determined that the sewage could be discharged into the nearby Rio Cauca river if careful attention was paid to the discharge rate and BOD load. The next step was to devise a cost effective means of removing the sewage from the lagoons and discharging it into the river.
Having read about dredging projects, Mr. Guerrero contacted Mr. Henry Boschen, export manager of VMI, Inc. of Cushing, Oklahoma, about the possibilities of using a dredger. After a trip to Colombia to view the situation it was determined that the dredging was indeed the only practical method.
The system requirements demanded using a minimum of equipment plus offering flexibility to reduce costs and to use the dredging equipment for other tasks at a later date. Saa & Angulo Construction firm of Cali was awarded the contract to dredge the lagoons. After meeting with VMI it was determined that the model MD-E615HN dredge along with a matched booster pump built by VMI would do the work.
The pipeline to be used was 8 inch polyethelene pipe, butt-fused wherever practical. The situation required the material to be dredged from the lagoons and discharged at a distance in excess of 4000m. The poly pipe was chosen for several reasons. The poly pipe offers strength but is light in weight. It can be curved to follow the contour of the ground and make turns where needed. By using a butt fusion machine the pipeline could be installed rapidly and also, when time came to remove the pipe, it could be cut in the desired lengths and reused at a new location.
The VMI MD-E615HN dredger used for the project offered numerous advantages. It is a one piece load and requires no disassembly to transport. The dredge uses a submerged pump with recessed impeller design. Composed of hi chrome material, the pump is extremely durable and its design is claimed to offer the ultimate in solids removal.
As is common in sewage, entrained gases present a problem with most pumps. This pump however has been tested and is capbale of handling in excess of 30 per cent entrained gases. It is highly effective in soilds removal and when combined with the VMI patented horizontal flow through full width suction cutter head provides excellent results in any type of sludge application.
The dredge travels by means of hydraulically driven treble sheave tracking on a small cable stretched across the lagoon as is common with most horizontal cutter dredges. All functions of the dredge are hydraulically operated being powered by a 234 horsepower diesel engine.
The dredge pump and the booster pump used were identical, as were the diesel engines, to minimise spare parts. Each pump is capable of 220' of head at 1750GPM. The discharge rate into the river was estimated to be 900 GPM so as not to exceed the allowable BOD load. Because the pumps are driven by variable speed hydraulics, the flows can be altered in virtually any flow rate within the pump curve, without reducing the engine speed below an acceptable level.
Upon completing the assembly of the dredge, booster pump and pipeline discharge package, VMI arranged shipping and the equipment was ocean freighted to Colombia. Upon arrival of the equipment in Cali, Henry Boschen of VMI arrived in Cali to assist in set up of the equipment and to train personnel.
The pipeline was the first item to be placed. To start the project to the near end of the first lagoon required the placement of over 2km of pipe. The pipeline was placed and the dredger was in position to operate after only one and a half weeks. With the system in place the first tests began. The initial test was to see if the dredger alone could flow the required amount without using the booster. The tests proved completely successful. Samples of the material were gathered and the percentage of solids obtained exceeded the highest expectations.
With the dredging project underway and going well it is estimated the project will near completion in 14 months. Although this type dredging is quite common in the many countries it was considered a first in Colombia.
🎤 GUY SAYS . . . 🎤
Dredging drives economic growth. From shipping and construction to agriculture and energy, industries rely on dredging to keep operations moving and supply chains running. No dredging? No progress.
💪 Keep the waterways clear. Keep business flowing. Keep moving forward.
📢 Tag someone who needs to hear this! ⬇️ #Dredging #VMIDredges #ThisIsHowYouDredge #WeMakeRevenueFlow #DredgingEquipment
GUY SAYS . . . BILLIONS of cubic yards of muck and mud get dredged up every year, why? To keep massive ships afloat and global cargo mo...
