Vaughan Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 If I hadn't seen this with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it! This is on the Canal du Midi at Puicheric, and it is a self propelled dredger. The two sections are probably watertight but obviously not buoyant, as it simply walks along the bottom of the canal doing dredging or bank work, attended by a barge to take the spoil away. When they have finished, they just drive it up onto the bank, on caterpillar tracks. I imagine the whole thing comes apart in two halves, and can then be transported on low loaders. Maybe I shall find out in the next few days! The bottom of the canal is all firm ground at exactly the same depth, so perfect for an idea like this. I am not sure it would be much use on Barton Broad, though! 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairTmiddlin Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 No Vaughan. They do float. Enough displacement in these hulls. The two black bullet shapes on the back are hydraulic motored propellers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelsea14Ian Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 They could do with a few of them in Egypt! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoggy Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 1 hour ago, Chelsea14Ian said: They could do with a few of them in Egypt! If they built the container ships like they could just go around the blockage, Mmmm a PH bridge cure.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEM Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 The contraption looks as if it was built by cutting an old German Panzer in half! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marshman Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 They have had similar bits of kit here - except they float. Every now and again I know the BA have hired one for very inaccessible spots - years ago they had one working for a time on Reedham Water and a little more recently on Hickling. To be fair not seen it around for several years although equally, I am too old now to be bumming around in the middle of a marsh and on thin hover!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheQ Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 The one I've seen on the broads had a tree cutter head fitted to the arm, It cleared the area opposite Horning Church and on the left going up above Horning.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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