Townsville Channel Upgrade Dredging Support

Scope of Work

• PMG provided 2 x fully crewed Damen Shoalbuster 2609 tugs (PMG Tarka and Sea Charlie) working 24hrs/day for 2+ years to support the dredging campaign.
• The project allowed us to provide marine traineeships to 20 young mariners. This project gave these trainees significant tug& barge operational experience which sees them enter the industry as highly experienced young mariners, with either a Master 5 or Marine Engine Driver (MED) 2 qualification. The majority of these trainees have stayed on with PMG after the project.
• The dredging campaign also involved Hall Contracting’s backhoe dredge “Woomera” and 2 x 240ft flat top barges carrying 3000 –4000T loads.
• All material was transported ashore on the 240ft barges, and unloaded at a purpose built sheetpile unloading facility.
• PMG also provided assist tugs (Sailfish /Swordfish) to help the barges berth/unberth at the unloading facility, and berth/unberth alongside the backhoe dredge.
• The Shoalbuster tugs were used to move the spoil barges back and forth, and move the backhoe dredge when required.
• Overall the dredging campaign moved 3.4 million m3 of seabed over a 2+ year period.
• PMG also constructed the sheetpile component of the unloading facility, and we were involved in rock wall inner face strengthening using road transportable barges.