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District's Mud Mover Momentarily Motionless

by Lira Frye

NEW ORLEANS -- Usually out in the Mississippi River moving silt to keep commercial shipping channels open, the Wheeler is currently undergoing routine maintenance at the foot of Prytania Street.

"Right now we're in our refit period," said Monty Hall, chief mate. "It's annual; we come in every year at this time."

The Wheeler finished its dredging season July 18, but because it had to be prepared to respond through Sept. I if needed, the crew could only start minor repairs and maintenance. Now, however, full-blown maintenance is underway.

"A dredge needs more maintenance than a regular vessel," said V.J. Gianelloni, first assistant engineer. "It has higher wear and tear because dredging stirs up abrasives, and those abrasives wear on the ship.

"Right now, we're tearing pumps apart," he said, "and performing general maintenance work that can be done while the vessel floats."

In addition to undergoing scheduled maintenance, the Wheeler also awaits guidance from Headquarters sometime in mid- September regarding its fiscal year 1998 mission. Currently, as directed by Congress, it will be in standby status starting Oct. 1. This is to allow more dredging to be accomplished by private industry.

"Of course we'd rather be operating," Monty said. "In December (once maintenance is complete), we'll go through an operating mode stand down. We've never done that before and it will be a challenge."

Government Dredge Wheeler
Jarris "Gator" Guidry works on the Wheeler's
crane during annual naintenance.

From a marine-engineering perspective, V.J. said the challenge will be keeping the dredge ready so it can respond when called into action. "An engine works better if it's used every day," he said. "It requires the same amount of maintenance either way."

According to V.J., the Wheeler's crew will be working to maintain their high level of readiness. The 56 crew members who work on the Wheeler are divided into two tours of 28 each. Each tour works approximately 14 days on and 14 days off, 365 days a year.

"We're a tight family here," Monty said. "We spend as much time with the people on the dredge as we do with our wives and children. It's different than in the building. Here we live in our work environment."

V.J. added, "What most don't realize about the dredge is that we're a self-contained system - a floating city."

Government Dredge Wheeler
The government's largest dredge, the Wheeler, is capable
of dredging 8,000 cubic yards in 20 minutes

The floating city is also the largest government dredge. The Wheeler has more pumping capacity than any hopper dredge in the country, dredging 8,000 cubic yards in 20 minutes, filling its hopper with the equivalent of 744 dumptrucks full of mud.

"We can fill and dump more times than any other dredge," V.J said. "The bottom line is we can move more material."

However, just how much dredge material the Wheeler will be allowed to remove next fiscal year and how long it will be on a standby status is unknown. The crew and district await further word from Washington.

Point of Contact:
Kathy Gibbs
Chief, Public Affairs Office
Telephone: (504) 862-2201
Fax: (504) 862-1724
E-Mail Address: Kathy.Gibbs@usace.army.mil
Document Date: 22-Oct-1999