Buying A Dredge - 10 Things You Need To Consider

By Ryan Horton

SGB supply professional and honest service.

Investing / buying a dredge can be a scary process.  In the past 5 years alone I have seen a dozen different dredge builders surface around the world and throw up web pages that make them look bigger than they actually are.  It is important that you do your due diligence before selecting a dredge builder.  After you determine what size dredge you require and what basic features you want then you need to determine which dredge supplier or broker to work with.  Here is some general advice I give to potential buyers:

1. 1. FACTORY:

      Ask the sales person for photos of their factory (inside and out), parking lot, inventory lot, and offices.  If they can&#;t provide them or the photos don&#;t meet your expectations then move on to another builder.

   2. USED DREDGES:

      When dealing with a dredge broker who deals in used dredges only, make sure they provide at least 5 written references that are from the last 5 years.  Ask if they provide any sort of warranty or if the sale is &#;as is, where is&#; as we often hear about used dredge buyers having to spend $50,000+ on repairing a dredge before they even get started operating it.  Most used brokers won&#;t provide any sort of guarantee so make sure you can live with that.  Make sure that the slurry pump is not worn out.  Impellers and suction liners can cost a minimum of $6,000 each.  If you are dead set on buying a used dredge then only buy a dredge that is build by a manufacturer that is still in business and one that has a good global reputation and the ability to service its clients globally.  Another important item to discuss with the broker is if spare parts are available.  If they say &#;yes&#; then make sure they give you a name, , and direct number for the parts person and make sure and call the person to see if your used dredge still has parts support.   Ask the parts person what sort of items they would recommend to update the used dredger.   This may also help you determine if buying used is really a &#;good deal&#;.   Also, make sure that the broker answers the during normal business hours in their time zone.  Stay away from brokers that work on mobile phones and don&#;t have a physical location.   Ask the broker for photos of the hour meter on the engine that are dated or do the simple &#;proof of life&#; photo with a major newspaper in the background.  Stay away from shop built dredges and from used dredges built by companies that are no longer in business.

   3. COMPANY OWNERSHIP & STABILITY:

       Find out who owns the company.  Is it financially secure?  For example, some smaller dredge builders are privately held.  Make sure you feel comfortable giving your money to a privately held company.  It is always a safer bet to deal with a larger manufacturer that is backed by a financially stable firm.  IMS for example is owned by Markel Corp. (NYSE: MKL), a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange.  Look up the company&#;s D&B report before you spend $500,000-$1,000,000+.  If the annual revenue is below $5,000,000 a year then walk away.

1. SERVICE DEPARTMENT:

   Find out how many people they have in their service department.  Do they include training free with a dredge purchase or are they going to nickel and dime you every step of the way (airfare, hotel, meals, travel days, etc.)?  IMS includes 3 days training for US customers and 5 days training for overseas customers.   IMS even covers airfare, hotels, and meals.  Again, if you are buying used then check the cost of what it takes to get a field service technician to your job site.

2. CHECK THEIR WEBSITE CLOSELY:

     Look at their website closely.  Does it just show general dredge specifications and a couple photos?  A good supplier will have case studies and use names of clients and projects titles.  There is another dredge builder that says they &#;can&#; build a hydraulic dredge with a vegetation cutterhead yet they don&#;t show a single photo or video of the unit in operation.  Make sure you are not going to be a guinea pig for a duplication of someone else&#;s technology.   It may look the same as the technology they are copying, but in the end it is never the &#;same&#;.  Think about the hydraulic flows, required power and mechanical tolerances.  Most companies that duplicate a competitor&#;s technology never get this right and doom the end user to failure and possible legal repercussions on their contract.

3. PUMPING INFORMATION:

    Only work with someone that has the ability to show you production estimates that include pipeline ID, length of pipeline, terminal elevation, flow, % solids, estimated solids production, and a pump curve.  It is a lot harder for a supplier or broker to give you inaccurate information if you are requesting basic technical information along with the production estimate request.   Also, make sure and know the difference between total slurry volume vs. total pumped solids.  The slurry volume is the total water and solids mixture.  It is common for some European suppliers to give a production estimate to an end user as total slurry volume (ex. 500m3/hr.).  In reality their dredge pumps around 80m3 hr. solids.  This is of course misleading if the proper questions are not asked.

4. ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT:

   It is very important to compare apples to apples when shopping.  One supplier may charge $50,000 less for example, but what features and additional equipment are you not getting as part of the package that you may actually need?  Some suppliers will quote you a dredge without air conditioning, no hoses, no hose floats, no training, and sometimes without cables or a propulsion system.  At the end of the day these items can cost over $60,000.

5. SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISONS:

   Ask your dredge sales person to compare your dredge to the other dredge(s) you are looking at.  If they don&#;t have the time then they won&#;t have the time for you when you have a serious problem down the road and need your help.    This simple exercise helps show what you are getting for your money.  Send them the competitive quote and let them show you the advantages of their system over the competition.

6. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION:

   This is important.  Find out where the supplier is located.  If they are in a small town that is not close to an international airport then you can almost guarantee that they are not a major player in the industry and their parts shipment will take additional time to get to you.  If their factory is within 1 hr. of a major international airport like Minneapolis / St. Paul International then it is a good bet that they are able to ship parts out the same day and have them on an international flight by the evening.

7. BUDGET MODELS:

   If you have a project that is not that complex or you are fine with a basic hydraulic lever model dredge and cable drive then ask the manufacturer if they will build you a &#;bare bones&#; model.   A few manufacturers like IMS will do this.  This will insure that you get a high quality product build in the USA by a reliable dredge supplier.  It is a lot riskier buying a used dredge than it is buying a used excavator.  Dredges are often made in smaller runs and there only a hand full of manufacturers in the world, like IMS, that build high volumes with uniform parts.

General FAQs

What is a Shark Class Dredge?

The Shark Class Conventional Dredge combines a conventional dredge-operating configuration with modular design for ease of transportation. The Shark is often used by sand and gravel producers and contractors. Standard discharge sizes range from 10 inches through 24 inches. For more information, please consult DSC&#;s Shark page.

Where can I find replacement parts?

DSC&#;s Parts Express is available 24/7, to quickly ship dredge parts for both replacement and regular maintenance. Visit the Parts Express page for more information.

At what digging depth should I consider a ladder pump?

A submerged pump, in a nutshell, raises production due to increased suction inlet pressure even at shallow depths and low production rates. Economic issues usually dictate the decision of whether to purchase a ladder pump or not. Without adding an elaborate jet system in the pump suction, which is very inefficient and costly at or near sea level, if you plan to dig deeper than 45 feet and need to average more than 300 tons per hour of production, it is more cost effective to use a ladder pump or a combination ladder pump and hull-mounted pump. At DSC, any of our sales staff, with the help of one of our four licensed professional engineers, will gladly do a project analysis to help you choose the most cost-effective dredge to satisfy your production needs.

Why are DSC's dredges PLC-controlled instead of being equipped with manual controls?

The PLC allows the dredge to interface with the processing plant and boosters, and also allows different automation schemes to be employed. The PLC has revolutionized the hydraulic control system. It has allowed the hydraulic oil, valves and hose to stay in the hydraulic room or engine room, so they no longer reside in the control room or lever room. For more information about automation and controls, please see our Automation page.

Why does the Marlin dredge employ the torque tube instead of the line shaft with cutlass bearings?

Torque tubes require less horsepower because they use antifriction bearings, as opposed to the cutlass bearings, which are basically rubber sleeve-type bearings or &#;friction bearings.&#; Cutlass bearings must be flushed with clean water, which not only requires horsepower to drive the water pump, but also may be impossible to obtain in some dredging environments.

Why does DSC use square flotation tanks instead of round tanks?

Square tanks are more stable for a given size than round tanks. Square tanks are also more user-friendly because a simple addition of handrails creates a safe work platform. Special grating schemes must be devised on round tanks to allow the addition of a personnel walkway on the top of the tank. Because square tanks are more expensive to manufacture, however, they are not often used.

For more Dredger Pumps exportersinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

What does the term "critical line velocity" mean?

This is the lowest possible velocity at which the dredged material will stay in suspension and move through the pipeline in a heterogeneous mixture. Below this velocity, the material begins to separate and fall out in the pipeline. The critical line velocity changes with dredging conditions and the type of material being pumped. If the operator continues to pump below this point, the pipeline will plug with material and the dredge will stop working.

What is a Wolverine Class Dredge?

The Wolverine Class Conventional Dredge is 68 feet in length and is offered in a 10-inch discharge configuration. The Wolverine can dig down to 25 feet below the surface and allows for a maximum particle clearance of 6 inches. This tough, portable dredge is perfect for the light contractor and is fully functional by one person. For more information, please consult DSC&#;s Wolverine page.

What is a Badger Class Dredge?

The Badger Class Conventional Dredge is offered in an 8-inch configuration. With a maximum digging depth of 20 feet, this 54-foot-long dredge is ideal for smaller dredging jobs where more compact equipment is required due to work area limitations. For more information, please consult DSC&#;s Badger page.

Who is DSC Dredge, LLC?

DSC is a world leader in Customized Dredging Solutions that provides customers with new dredges, dredge parts and supplies. With the ability to build quality standard dredges, and specializing in custom-designed dredges, DSC has developed a dominant role in the dredge manufacturing industry. DSC today is proud of its reputation as a &#;World Leader in Portable Dredges.&#;

Why choose DSC?

DSC Dredge has decades of experience in custom dredge design and manufacturing &#; specializing in portable cutter suction, combination, environmental, maintenance, articulating ladder, sand and gravel, and various other mining dredges, including underwater pump dredges. With a legacy of design excellence, DSC can build a dredge that matches your exact needs.

What is a Moray Class Dredge?

The Moray Class Swinging Ladder Dredge is a swinging ladder dredge that is also equipped with an underwater dredge pump. The Moray dredge has proven itself to be highly productive and transportable. For more information, please consult DSC&#;s Moray page.

What is a Barracuda Class Dredge?

The Barracuda Class Swinging Ladder Dredge is a hull pump swinging ladder dredge with standard discharge sizes ranging from 10 inches through 16 inches. Barracuda dredges have been most commonly used in waterway maintenance and lake revitalization projects. For more information, please consult DSC&#;s Barracuda page.

What is a Marlin Class Dredge?

The Marlin Class Mining Dredge is designed to meet the needs of deep mining deposits as an efficient tool to excavate materials. The Marlin can dredge depths exceeding 100 feet. This deep digging depth is made possible by the use of an underwater pump system with a high-torque cutter drive assembly. For more information, please consult DSC&#;s Marlin page.

When does a dredge pump require more horsepower? On a short line or on a long line?

Required horsepower is dependent on pressure and flow rate. At a given flow rate, more horsepower is required on the long line than a short line. This is because a higher pressure is required to pump a longer pipeline at a given flow. At a given pump speed, more horsepower is required on a short line than a long line. This is because the lower friction on the short line induces a higher flow rate.

When we purchase a dredge from DSC, will we receive operator training from you?

DSC provides dredge operator training on each dredge when it is delivered and commissioned. Additionally, customers will receive classroom training, as well as dredge simulator training. Please check out our Field Services and Why Choose DSC Dredge? pages for additional details.

What type of jobs do you have open at DSC Dredges?

Please visit Careers to see a complete list of our current openings.

Do you work on the water?

DSC positions include engineering, manufacturing, sales, service and administrative-type work. All DSC positions are located within one of our three land-based facilities in Reserve, LA; Poplarville, MS; and Greenbush, MI.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Ash Handling Pump vendor.