Technology Generates Enhanced Capabilities For Marine Construction
Trident’s Amphibex excavator brings a new innovative capability to construction methods in a marine setting. At last marine engineers and contractors can call upon an amphibious platform that delivers powerful, precise hydraulic advantage and building techniques from the waterline enjoyed by the array of ground-based excavators.
For the prime contractor Trident’s Amphibex is able to bring to bear features and tools that provide mechanical advantages at the waterline needed to accomplish tasks required on marine construction projects. Similar to the formidable beaver, the Amphibex offers multiple work methods and quick coupling attachments from a single platform to achieve marine construction tasks. Importantly, the Amphibex platform brings hydraulic and compact excavator tools to aquatic places that were before difficult or unimaginable to reach. Still in its infancy, the from-the-water construction applications offered have yet to be fully developed by marine engineers and landscape architects.
The ability to shape marine features using the Amphibex is an engineer and architect’s dream (also a beaver’s). Considering the Amphibex’s capabilities in the design and planning phase will empower engineers and architects. The versatility of the Amphibex vastly increases the ability to incorporate grander design features into marine projects. The possibilities are endless. Designed with delivering affordable production costs in mind, the Amphibex enables the obtainment of design possibilities at an attainable cost. This will allow remarkable design features that before may have been too difficult or challenging to accomplish. For the architect and engineer, the Amphibex’s tractor-trailer ground transportation allows it easy access to lakes, streams, and aquatic areas that other water construction tools could not reach. It is able to enter the water unassisted and doesn’t require crane support. Once in the water, the wide array of mechanical tools allows the Amphibex to accomplish more and rewrite the “possible” in conducting marine construction tasks.
Noticeably, marine engineers and landscape architects have yet to tap the full potential of the Amphibex in project design and execution. Like a new tool, its full range of applications are still waiting discovery by creative project general contractors, engineers and architects.
Possible Applications Include:
• Enhanced waterscape architectural development and sculpturing
• Perform stream-course culturing, revitalization and architectural land sculpturing
• Creation of barriers/gabions, rip-rap and artificial islands
• Driving piles with hydraulic or vibration pile driver
• Placing sheet piling and bulkheads
• Construction of fenders and piers
• Handling material in aquatic settings
• Precise placement of rock, boulders, and large-stone cubes
• Digging of marine trenches, holes, and foundations
• Clearing away environmental and storm damage
• Conducts marine demolition and ice dam break-up
• Removal of material in demolition projects
• Cleaning blocked streams, canals, and waterways
• Maintenance and repair of bridge piling
• Maintenance and repair industrial outtake and intake
• Installation, trenching and repair of in-water pipelines/cables
• Maintenance of irrigation and drainage canals
Remarkable Material Handling Ability
The two main categories of dredging are mechanical excavation and hydraulic (suction) excavation. The Amphibex excavator is able to perform both to a 25-foot shallow draft depth. Mechanical excavation dredging is slower but may provide a more controlled excavation and so is useful in tight areas such as a channel running between a set of piers. Also mechanical dredging can be used where material is difficult to remove such as rock laden or hard bed. On the downside, mechanical dredging comes with increases in material handling requirements, which may result in inefficiencies and additional costs. On the upside, the Amphibex provides a unique flexibility in its ability to rapidly change between mechanical and hydraulic dredging to meet project demands.
On the other hand, the precise control of its mechanical arm along with small size and maneuverability, the Amphibex is able to employ controlled high rate suction excavation in tight areas. This leads to quicker production rates-over mechanical dredging-combined with a key advantage of a more efficient, controlled and cleaner material handling capacity. This precise control and power of its mechanical arm will also provide advantage in dock, bridge, shoreline and other construction tasks. Importantly this purely translates into cost savings for the marine contractor and client approaches
New : Waterborne Construction and Over-The-Beach Based Construction Logistics
Borrowing tactics from the US Marine Corps and the humble beaver, the use of the Amphibex with its remarkable in-water mechanical performance offers new possibilities for marine projects. Like the formidable beaver who uses the water to move his material around in dam construction and increase his work capacity, the Amphibex can do the same. Using the waterborne power of the Amphibex, engineers and landscape architects are able to design projects, which can be accomplished by building features or structures from the “waterside-in” methodology or in US Marine Corps terms “over-the-beach” as opposed to shoreline access. The maneuverability and mechanical advantage of the Amphibex allows much more work to be conducted from the water.
Many marine contractors are forced to use the shoreline to support the logistics and construction operations. This endangers shorelines, increased clients’ concerns and limits construction approaches. Most importantly limits can lead to increase costs. However, the Amphibex’s attributes greatly increases the general contractor and client’s ability to use the water as its logistical lines of communication. Planned correctly and the incorporation of additional support vessels, a project could simply be accomplished using little shoreline access. The result is reduced shoreline damage and less disruption to the environment. Importantly, the client enjoys a quicker habitat recovery. Favorably, the lake, shoreline or site remains open for public use.