Environmental activities

Title: Consultancy project for a soil clean-up process plant

Client: Svedala NL
MTI rendered services in an arbitrage case between supplier and client as process expert consultancy.

Title: Glass recycling

Client: Glass Recycling BRD
Evaluation and testing of jigs for the recycling of glass. A number of samples were tested in a pilot plant.

Title: Development of a multifunctional environmental dredger

Client: IHC Holland in co-operation with Ballast Nedam Environmental Dredging
Based on previous studies on environmental dredging a concept was developed where the dredger was required to operate under varying conditions. Both removal of debris and accurate removal of polluted soil layers had to be performed by the same dredger.

Title: Innovative dredging techniques

Client: Cockburn Cement Ltd. Australia
MTI has performed a feasibility study into the developing and testing of innovative dredging techniques to mitigate effects on the seagrass habitat. The dredging operation is part of shellsand mining operation. To extend the current operation an environmental impact statement on the effect of dredging on the seagrass had to be prepared. The study consisted of an analysis of the current dredging operation and a review of possible mitigating methods as well as a proposal for further stages.

Title: Possibilities to mine diatomite with minimised impact on the top most sediment layer at lake Mývatn

Client: Kísilidjan hf. Iceland
Current dredging techniques to mine the diatomaceous earth remove the upper layer of the deposit. This layer contains a large variety of life and is important for the lake's ecosystem. The environmental impact of the mining operation can be reduced if a dredging technique can be applied, which minimises disturbance to the upper layer. The study evaluated the most suitable dredging method for this operation.

Title: Feasibility study for evaluation of dredging equipment to remove a large offshore deposit of contaminated sediments at large depth

Client: U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; U.S. Department of Justice, Environmental and Natural Resources Division.
The study included the identification of suitable existing equipment for removing the deposit and a preliminary investigation for new solutions. The project requires special dredging operations because of the thin layer to be dredged under offshore conditions. Both existing and possible new dredging plants have been investigated. After a selection of suitable methods, production and costs have been calculated to determine the most economical option.

Title: Development, design and tests of an oil draghead to sweep crude oil from the sea surface by means of the dredging installation of trailing suction hopper dredgers

Client: Dutch State Waterways Board, North Sea Directory.
After initial desk studies a system was developed which can turn a dredger in a short time into an oil combat vessel. The system was first applied on the dredgers Cosmos and Prof. Gorjunov. Further research to improve the oil recovery system has led to the development of a special oil recovery head which floats on the waterline. Through this head the oil is sucked off the surface by the available dredge pump. The dredger is equipped with a sweeping arm to direct the oil to the oilhead. The Dutch State Waterways Board successfully tested this system.