Abstract: A vessel docking system has a vessel such as a scow and/or a tugboat, a platform such as a barge and/or a dredger, an optical distance measuring means, a vessel display unit, and a control means. The vessel display unit is configured to display a position and a location of the vessel and/or the platform. The optical distance measuring means is in communication with the vessel display unit. The optical distance measuring means includes a sensor, a laser, and lens. The optical distance measuring means is configured to determine a distance and a pathway between the platform and the vessel.

Abstract: A sediment capping system is adapted to create, and distribute, a homogenized mixture of capping material. Where distributing the capping material, the system is configured to militate against the capping material forming clumps of a size and weight that would disturb the sediment on a bottom of a body of water. This in turn militates against the sediment being disturbed, and a disturbing of pollutants and toxins into the water surrounding the sediment. The sediment capping system militates against the clumping of capping material through a vibrating spreader and baffle system, producing a sediment cap with a more consistent depth that will minimally disturb the sediment on the floor of the body of water where the sediment cap is being deposited.

Abstract: A spud greasing system includes a spudwell and a spud configured to slidingly engage with the spudwell between a deployed position and an undeployed position. The spud includes an access window configured to align and correspond with a window of the spudwell when the spud is in the undeployed position. A sheave assembly is mounted in the spud and includes a first sheave and a second sheave rotationally mounted proximate a front end and a back end of the housing, respectively. When the spud is in the undeployed position, a grease supply is configured to be selectively connected to a supply pipe through the window and access window of the spudwell and spud thereby supplying grease to the first sheave of the sheave assembly without removing the spud from the spudwell.

Abstract: A sediment capping system is adapted to create, and distribute, a homogenized mixture of capping material. Where distributing the capping material, the system is configured to militate against the capping material forming clumps of a size and weight that would disturb the sediment on a bottom of a body of water. This in turn militates against the sediment being disturbed, and a disturbing of pollutants and toxins into the water surrounding the sediment. The sediment capping system militates against the clumping of capping material through a vibrating spreader and baffle system, producing a sediment cap with a more consistent depth that will minimally disturb the sediment on the floor of the body of water where the sediment cap is being deposited.

Abstract: A dragging apparatus has a carriage body. The carriage body has at least one attachment portion. The attachment portion is configured to connect the carriage body to a drag barge. At least one ripper shank is disposed on the carriage body. The ripper shank extends downwardly from the carriage body. A method for operating a dragging apparatus includes providing a barge and a dragging apparatus, and then lowering the dragging apparatus to a floor or bottom of a body of water to agitate the floor or bottom.

Abstract: A vessel and vessel/barge systems for dredging underwater surfaces. The vessel includes a hull with a bottom, bow portion, stern portion, port side, and starboard side. The vessel also includes a deck supported by the hull and a pump system mounted within the hull. A drag arm pivotably couples to the pump system. The vessel additionally includes a void defined by contiguous watertight walls or bulkheads joined to and extending upward from the bottom of the hull. The contiguous watertight walls or bulkheads are (i) vertically extensive of a perimeters of an aperture in the bottom of the hull, (ii) outboard, astern, and forward the aperture, or (iii) some combination thereof. The barge is releasably coupled to the vessel. Moreover, the barge is in fluidic communication with the drag arm.

Abstract: An anchor driving device includes an anchor, a driving member with a slide stop, an anchor rod, a slide collar, and a load cell. The driving member is removably coupled to the anchor. The slide stop of the driving member is spaced apart from and disposed above the anchor. The anchor rod is permanently coupled to the anchor. The slide collar is disposed on the driving member and is selectively affixed to the driving member with a release mechanism. The load cell is permanently coupled to the slide collar and selectively coupled to the anchor rod. The load cell is configured to measure a load through the anchor rod during a setting operation of the anchor.

Abstract: A sediment capping system is adapted to create, and distribute, a homogenized mixture of capping material. Where distributing the capping material, the system is configured to militate against the capping material forming clumps of a size and weight that would disturb the sediment on a bottom of a body of water. This in turn militates against the sediment being disturbed, and a disturbing of pollutants and toxins into the water surrounding the sediment. The sediment capping system militates against the clumping of capping material through a vibrating spreader and baffle system, producing a sediment cap with a more consistent depth that will minimally disturb the sediment on the floor of the body of water where the sediment cap is being deposited.

Abstract: A slope-level-cut bucket for an excavator includes a first bucket half and a second bucket half. The bucket halves are pivotably connected to each other and movable between a closed position and an opened position. Each bucket half has an excavating edge configured to minimize bucket overlap during cutting of a sloped surface. In particular, the excavating edge includes a plurality of steps. The dimensions of the steps are selected to optimize the cutting of a desired slope of the excavating surface.

Abstract: A sluiceway device for a hopper barge has an elongate main body defining a discharge channel. The elongate main body has a plurality of openings. The elongate main body may be configured to be disposed atop a hull of the hopper barge and configured to receive dredging material placed in the hopper barge. The sluiceway device may also have a discharge pump. The discharge pump may be in communication with the discharge channel. The discharge pump may be further configured to pump the dredging material from the discharge channel to a disposal area outside of the hopper barge.

Abstract: An anchor driving device includes an anchor, a driving member with a slide stop, an anchor rod, a slide collar, and a load cell. The driving member is removably coupled to the anchor. The slide stop of the driving member is spaced apart from and disposed above the anchor. The anchor rod is permanently coupled to the anchor. The slide collar is disposed on the driving member and is selectively affixed to the driving member with a release mechanism. The load cell is permanently coupled to the slide collar and selectively coupled to the anchor rod. The load cell is configured to measure a load through the anchor rod during a setting operation of the anchor.

Abstract: A sluiceway device for a hopper barge has an elongate main body defining a discharge channel. The elongate main body has a plurality of openings. The elongate main body may be configured to be disposed atop a hull of the hopper barge and configured to receive dredging material placed in the hopper barge. The sluiceway device may also have a discharge pump. The discharge pump may be in communication with the discharge channel. The discharge pump may be further configured to pump the dredging material from the discharge channel to a disposal area outside of the hopper barge.

Abstract: A slope-level-cut bucket for an excavator includes a first bucket half and a second bucket half. The bucket halves are pivotably connected to each other and movable between a closed position and an opened position. Each bucket half has an excavating edge configured to minimize bucket overlap during cutting of a sloped surface. In particular, the excavating edge includes a plurality of steps. The dimensions of the steps are selected to optimize the cutting of a desired slope of the excavating surface.

Abstract: Described are a vessel and vessel/barge systems for dredging underwater surfaces. The vessel includes a hull with a bottom, bow portion, stern portion, port side, and starboard side. The vessel also includes a deck supported by the hull and a pump system mounted within the hull. A drag arm pivotably couples to the pump system. The vessel additionally includes a void defined by contiguous watertight walls or bulkheads joined to and extending upward from the bottom of the hull. The contiguous watertight walls or bulkheads are (i) vertically extensive of a perimeters of an aperture in the bottom of the hull, (ii) outboard, astern, and forward the aperture, or (iii) some combination thereof. The barge is releasably coupled to the vessel. Moreover, the barge is in fluidic communication with the drag arm.

Abstract: Described are a vessel and vessel/barge systems for dredging underwater surfaces. The vessel includes a hull with a bottom, bow portion, stern portion, port side, and starboard side. The vessel also includes a deck supported by the hull and a pump system mounted within the hull. A drag arm pivotably couples to the pump system. The vessel additionally includes a void defined by contiguous watertight walls or bulkheads joined to and extending upward from the bottom of the hull. The contiguous watertight walls or bulkheads are (i) vertically extensive of a perimeters of an aperture in the bottom of the hull, (ii) outboard, astern, and forward the aperture, or (iii) some combination thereof. The barge is releasably coupled to the vessel. Moreover, the barge is in fluidic communication with the drag arm.