Natural Resources Ministry working to remove sunken dredge

Aug 14, 2016 News

Yesterday this publication had reported that the river dredge which had sunk two months ago in the Mazaruni River had not been removed as yet. A statement issued yesterday by the Ministry of Natural Resources indicated that the ministry is currently working with a mining company to remove the dredge.
The statement said that a crew of workers has built a specialised pontoon, which will be used to “float up” the partly submerged dredge. The pontoon is equipped with three hydraulic winches and measures 28 feet wide, 68 feet in length and four feet in depth. It has 18 compartments.
According to the Ministry, the plan is to have the pontoon filled with water and then secure it to the sunken vessel. The water will then be pumped out of the pontoon, which will cause it to rise up, taking the dredge with it. When the pontoon is emptied it will have a lifting capacity of 180 tonnes.
The crew to conduct the operation is currently on site; however, the speed of the water at the top of the Piereemap Falls, coupled with a prolonged rainy season, is making things difficult, as the work entails underwater cutting.
It is expected that work will progress a little more smoothly, as the water levels are dropping, making the operation less dangerous.

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