Specialist loading and unloading pontoons

The specialized loading and unloading pontoons of Aannemingsbedrijf J. den Boer make a good impression on many hydraulic engineering projects. For example, they were the silent force behind the widening and deepening of the Juliana Canal, and they prove their added value in various dyke reinforcement projects at home and abroad. Ton Kuijs, director of Aannemingsbedrijf J. den Boer, takes us 'up the bridge'. 

The Juliana Canal has been widened and deepened in record time. After barely six months of "rebuilding," the waterway has been open to shipping again since mid-April. An enormous amount of soil and silt was moved during this period. Consequently, a leading role was reserved for J. den Boer's barge De Buffel. "More than 300,000 cubic meters of contaminated silt had to be removed to two government depots in the Hollandsch Diep and at the Slufter," Kuijs explains. "The Buffalo lends itself perfectly to this type of job because it is equipped with a special retractable chute. The chute prevents splashing and spilling of contaminated sludge. The chute can be operated remotely and moves with the height of the ship to be loaded. As it gets fuller, the chute moves down with it and the skipper can also operate the chute from the wheelhouse by remote control. Finally, rubber flaps at the bottom prevent splashing of the contaminated sludge."

Loading and unloading without spillage

Loading was one thing, the contaminated sludge also had to get out. "At the Hollandsch Diep, the pontoons were unloaded with a bucket dredger. However, the contaminated sludge also contained coarse material with Limburg stones that were not picked up by the bucket dredger," Kuijs explains. "To still get all the residual cargo out and clean up the pontoons, we assisted with our floating unloading pontoon BJI. This pontoon is equipped with a ramp, transfer crane and hydraulic spill valve on deck. Trucks can be loaded efficiently and quickly. The spill valve prevents contaminated material from entering the water. Because of the hydraulic operation of the spill valve, there is no loss of time during vessel changes."

Own equipment service

The BJI was also deployed even after shipping had already resumed on the Juliana Canal. "For about four weeks, we still disposed of all residual materials such as rubble, soil and cradles. For that, we were not allowed to use our spud poles and we came up with our own equipment service to come up with an anchorage with winches on shore to keep the pontoon in place." 

Our two loading pontoons The Buffel and the Huibert are also still active on the Juliana Canal and will continue to be used for the rest of the year, according to Kuijs. "We are assisting in the transshipment of 700,000 cubic meters of soil to be transported by ships to project the Grensmaas."

Aannemingsbedrijf J. den Boer's loading and unloading pontoons are also proving their added value on other projects. "They we unloaded the necessary cubic meters of sand with our DBIII in Grubbenvorst, where we equipped the pontoon with an additional Telestack as a custom solution. This DBIII pontoon is now being readied and refitted for project the Meandering Maas. The BJI has meanwhile been moved to the dike reinforcement between Tiel and Waardenburg and our Antonia Johanna will soon be deployed on a project in Germany for about twelve weeks. And so, as a small contractor, we contribute to wonderful projects in hydraulic engineering, at home and abroad."