Posted on November 18, 2024
By Heiko Osterchrist
The author was honored and privileged to have been recently invited aboard the newest GLDD hopper dredge, The Galveston Island. She is a magnificent hopper vessel that is bristling with the latest dredge technology that makes her not only the most modern efficient vessel in the GLDD fleet, but in N. America. The Galveston Island was designed by C-Job Naval Architects to be low resistance in all sailing conditions, lighter and a shallow draft hopper. It was built by Conrad Shipyard and delivered in February of this year. The 6,500-cu. yd. (4970 m3) hopper has length of 346’ (105.5m), 68’ (20.73m) wide, a dredging depth of 100’ and a 20’ (6.4m) dredging draft when loaded. It has accommodations for up to 21 people in operation and many more daily guests. GLDD’s crew lives and works 28 days together on the hopper working 12 hours per day in varying watches. A spacious galley and bridge, fitness room, theater room, individual quarters (in which the crew really appreciates), conference room, as well as an emergency medical room that make The Galveston Island a truly comfortable hopper dredge to work on.
David Mills, Project Sponsor at GLDD was my tour guide. Project Sponsors, like David, manage multiple projects at one time from the corporate level. Project Sponsors are responsible for the overall success of the project from procurement of the project to final completion. As safety is No.1 in importance, GLDD has an excellent video for visitors to watch prior to visiting any of their dredges. The Galveston Island is currently working on Contract 2B of the Sabine-Neches Waterway Channel Improvement project (half-depth) on behalf of their client SNND (Sabine-Neches Navigation District). GLDD’s Ellis Island is also working on Contract 2B, but on a further offshore section. In addition, the CSD Alaska is working in nearby Port Arthur on an LNG project.
We launched from Sabine Pass on a crew boat for a 10-minute ride out to The Galveston Island. Captain Diego Hatch-Garcia along with Chief Mike Barron met us on the bridge to start the tour of the hopper. The bridge provides unobstructed views for the pilot and dredge operational controller of the deck. The Galveston Island control systems are the latest in technology and dredge automation, dynamic positioning and tracking, monitoring, the dredging control systems are from Vosta. The critical data is collected and directly connected to GLDD’s data center for on/off vessel analysis to optimize vessel performance.
Galveston Hopper Bridge
Galveston Dredge Operational Bridge
Below deck in the engineering control room, is another digital control center where the Chief can monitor and control all critical aspects of the dredge. The Galveston Island is powered by two EPA Tier IV rated GE Wabtec engines for low emission compliance and require no urea treatment system. The vessel is equipped with five generators including shaft generators. Auxiliary generators are EPA rated Tier III CAT engines with special urea treatment for lower Tier IV rated emissions. The total installed power is 16,367 hp (12,204kw). The engines are also designed to be able to utilize Biofuel, making The Galveston Island one of the lowest emission hopper dredges in N. America.
Galveston Engineering Control Room
Wabtec Tier IV Compliant Engines
The heart of The Galveston Island utilizes two 30”x 31.5” SPI/Mobile Pulley Works pumps with a direct 26”x 28” high-power pump-ashore system for beach renourishment projects. The bow discharge installation from Straatman has a diameter of 30” (762mm) and maximum working pressure of 290 psi (20bar).
SPI/Mobile Pulley Dredge Pumps
Straatman BV Bow Discharge System
The two drag arms and drag heads, as well as the control systems are from Vosta. The drag arms weighing in at about 100 tons are slowly extended down to the required depth to the channel floor, where it is pulled along the bottom, dredging up muddy/silty and clay materials in Sabine Neches Channel through pipes and into the holds of the hopper. Once full, the vessel sails out to a USACE authorized offshore disposal area in the Gulf, at that point the bottom of the hopper holds are opened and the material is released. The drag heads are outfitted with sea turtle deflectors and when allowed, has the ability to add chains that may further reduce marine species entrainment. In addition, the site operates with trawlers using netting methods approximately a quarter mile in front of the hopper vessel to capture and safely relocate any potential sea turtles outside and away from the dredge cut area.
GLDD Drag Head
Full Load of Material Ready for Dumping
The crew and GLDD have gained a lot of knowledge in the building and operating of The Galveston Island and through that experience have made some changes to her sister ship The Amelia Island, which will join the GLDD fleet in the 2nd half of 2025.
GLDD continues to strategically invest in modernizing its dredging fleet and equipping its existing fleet with modern technology. The addition of The Galveston Island increases the Company’s hopper capabilities for coastal protection and reinforcement, shipping channel improvements and deepening, and channel maintenance markets. GLDD now has seven dredge hoppers to provide added value to clients.
The author appreciates the time of David Mills, Captain Hatch Garcia, Chief Barron and the crew of The Galveston Island took to showing and providing details on board this magnificent dredge.
