Posted on May 22, 2018
By Charlie Lewis, Ellicott Dredges
Ellicott Dredges recently hosted a team of officials from Malawi’s Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO, LTD). During their two week visit, our distinguished guests participated in dredge operation, engine care, hydraulic control systems, and other dredge training programs that prepared them to independently operate a dredge that Ellicott Dredges is currently building for them.
The Dredge Training Process
As part of their hands-on training, representatives from Ellicott Dredges escorted the team to Ingleside, Maryland where they learned how to operate a working Ellicott 670 Dragon® Cutterhead Dredge that Ellicot previously built for Merrick Sand & Gravel in 2016.
As part of EGENCO’s continued training, Ellicott Dredges will be sending members of its’ field service team to Malawi later in 2018. During the teams visit they will help participants from EGENCO complete the final stages of their training program.
Malawi’s Newest Dredge
Ellicott Dredges is building a Dragon® Series model 1270 18-inch dredge for EGENCO under contract from the Millennium Challenge Account-Malawi. During their visit, our guests got to see the dredge in final stages of preparation.
The 1270 Dragon® dredger is configured for shallow digging and outfitted with a spud carriage that’s designed to increase efficiency. The dredge is intended to maintain the Kapichira Hydroelectric Plant on the Shire River. The vessel will dramatically improve EGENCO’s output and better meet Malawi’s power needs.
Source: Ellicott Dredges
