Beachbuilder

was negotiated for use of the Beachbuilder in the demonstration project. Several

meetings and numerous telephone conferences were conducted including MVD,

MVN, ERDC, OAS, Weeks Marine, and the Associated Branch Pilots (Bar

Pilots) from the Port of New Orleans personnel to define and concur on proposed

field activities. It was suggested and agreed that River Pilot Association pilots

would be hired to man the Beachbuilder pilot house on a 24-hr basis to monitor

vessel traffic and keep the leverman appraised of vessel traffic movement.

Having a pilot onboard during the entire demonstration while the dredge was

operating (a condition not usually required for hydraulic pipeline dredging

contracts) helped ensure the safety of dredge and crew, and allowed the pilots an

opportunity to observe and comment on the feasibility of this type of dredging

methodology. OAS and Weeks Marine prepared a proposal for the demonstration

project. A delivery order was issued to OAS in March 2002 to begin the project.

A meeting was held at the MVN office on 8 March 2002 with MVN, ERDC,

OAS, and Weeks Marine personnel in attendance. Final technical details of the

project were discussed and directions given as required on right-of-way, dredging

reaches, anchor lines, pipeline placement, safety requirements, visitors, opera-

tions data, surveying, and assignment of MVN Area Office inspectors. The site

activities were originally scheduled for late April or early May 2002. The project

was delayed due to resolution of funding issues, repair and maintenance on the

Beachbuilder, and availability of the floating hose, which was being used on

another project. Weeks Marine installed new bow winches and high strength wire

rope on the Beachbuilder in preparation for the demonstration project.

Weeks Marine started mobilizing equipment to the project site during the last

week of May 2002. A project kick-off meeting was held at the Venice Area Sub

Office on 3 June 2002 and included MVN, OAS, and Weeks Marine personnel.

Project activities, schedule, and safety issues were discussed. Recent surveys of

the project area conducted by MVN were presented. Based on the shoaling

detailed in the survey results, three channel reaches were identified and priori-

tized for dredging operations (Figure 2). Prioritization was based on physical

location of the reach and minimizing the requirement for movement of the

submerged line. The northernmost reach at the head of the bend in the channel at

the HOP was identified for initiation of the equipment mobility demonstration.

Vessel traffic in this area generally steered in a straight line prior to initiating a

turn through the bend, and thus was deemed somewhat safer with respect to

vessel traffic flow and proximity of the vessel traffic to the Beachbuilder while

dredging in the channel. Once it was demonstrated to all concerned parties that

the Beachbuilder could safely maneuver back and forth across the channel,

Beachbuilder was to move downriver and work in a reach located in the bend

where greater shoaling generally occurs. At the conclusion of the meeting,

Weeks Marine was directed to initiate site activities in preparation for dredging.

Chapter 1

Introduction