One of the most effective ways of dredging and cleaning out a marina is cutter suction dredging, which produces a high solids content, gives a very flat marina bed (which reduces the rate of further sedimentation) and, with the right equipment, is a fast and efficient method of dredging which leaves old fashioned digger dredging behind.

However, without a licence to dispose of the spoil directly into a river or the sea, getting rid of the resultant slurry can be difficult, all the more so with the new Water Framework Directive requiring all solids to be disposed of 'dry'. Until recently this would have involved the transportation of vast amounts of slurry to drying ponds in various parts of the country.

Help is however now at hand with Wave Seven Marine able to provide a single DSSS which handles 2,000 gallons per minute and separates solids from the dredged slurry via a three stage mechanical system. The solids are further separated into four different types to produce useful materials such as clean sand or compost. All solids are dewatered to a 'stackable' state which can be readily moved by dumper truck, conveyor belt or other means. These DSS units can be doubled to tripled to handle larger quantities, with the water usually then returned to source.

Full details of this dewatering system and of the associated Versi-Dredge self propelled transportable dredgers will be available on Wave Seven Marine’s stand at Seawork 2008.