Ellicott Builds Hopper Dredges for Mexico

At ceremonies held in Baltimore, the 500 cubic yard capacity sea-going hopper dredge, "FRONTERA I", was turned over to officials of the Secretaria de Marina of the United States of Mexico.

Designed and built by Ellicott, the dredge is the first of two identical units contracted for by the Mexican government to be applied to major port development projects. The principal dredging operation for the "FRONTERA I" is the improvement of the Port of Frontera and maintenance of the entrance channel to the Grijalva River in the State of Tabasco.

Especially suited for shallow draft coastwise service and port entrance maintenance, the dredge has a maximum dredging depth of 30 feet. It is equipped with two Ellicott 14-inch dredging pumps whose capacity is such that the hoppers of the dredge can be filled in approximately 30 minutes. Each pump is powered by a diesel engine with 300 shp at 1200 rpm.

The hopper space is divided into two compartments by a transverse bulkhead. These are subdivided transversely and longitudinally into four hopper units, making a total of eight. The doors on the hoppers are hydraulically operated with power opening or closing in about nine seconds.

Propelled by two diesel engines with a combined maximum 1250 shp at 1200 rpm, the "FRONTERA I" has a top speed of 11-1/2 knots when empty and 10 when the hoppers are loaded. The dredge is 186 feet 2 inches in length with a beam (moulded) of 35 feet, a depth (moulded) of 16 feet and a draft (loaded) of 12 feet, and has a gross tonnage of 975 tons. It is also equipped with quarters and a galley to serve a complement of 33 officers and crew.

A second hopper dredge, to be completed later this Fall, will be put in operation to maintain the port entrance channel in Alvarado, State of Veracruz.

Source: Ellicott Publication Dredging Progress