Dredge William A. Thompson Replacement Project
Type:
Presented during:
WODCON XVIII - 2007 Orlando, Florida, USA
Authors:
Krumholz
Abstract: The St. Paul District, Corps of Engineers, Dredge William A. Thompson (Thompson) performs channel maintenance dredging on the Upper Mississippi River from approximately St. Paul, Minnesota to St. Louis, Missouri. The Corps of Engineers' involvement with Upper Mississippi River navigation began in the 1800s with the removal of snags from the main channel for steamboat passage in the settlement of the Midwest. In the late 1800s, channel structures were placed in the river to provide a more reliable channel. To augment the structures and remove shoals resulting from the ever-shifting river bottom, the St. Paul District introduced hydraulic and mechanical dredges. The district employed several dredges in the 1910 to 1930 era of Upper Mississippi River navigation. In 1936, in anticipation of more significant dredging requirements resulting from the newly authorized Nine Foot Channel Project and completion of 27 locks and dams, a larger, more powerful dredge, the Thompson, was built by Dravo Shipyard in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. That was 71 years ago, and the Thompson is still functioning, though now in a reduced mission because of its age. It is currently being replaced.
This paper discusses some of the issues and considerations in replacing the Thompson, how they were resolved, the vessels that have and will be replacing the Thompson, and their features.
Keywords: Dredges, equipment, dredge technology, electric driven, cutterhead