River Dredging Machines
Every year the need for river dredging increases around the world. Communities that surround the natural flow of a river are susceptible to annual flooding during the rainy season. If the river is not properly maintained, silt, sand, and debris can accumulate and form a bottleneck. If a major rain event occurs, the bottleneck will restrict flow and the river will rise above its banks and flood local businesses and dwellings, causing millions of dollars in property damage and possible loss of life. River dredging equipment is necessary to maintain the natural flow of rivers and limit the potential for disaster. Using a river dredging machine ensures that the riverbed is clear of obstructions, reducing the risk of flooding.
If you would like to speak with someone about Versi-Dredge equipment and your canal maintenance & dredging needs, call (866) 483-0014 or click “Get Started” below to tell us about your project.
IMS Versi-Dredges Maintaining Rivers Around The World
Two IMS 5012 LP Versi-Dredge units clean out a polluted river in Colombia.
An IMS 5012 HP Versi-Dredge cleans out a river in the Philippines.
An IMS 7012 HP dredges sand from a river in Malaysia.
An IMS 5012 HP Versi-Dredge performs river maintenance dredging for the Brunei Government.
One of eight IMS Model 7012 HP Versi-Dredge units operating on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Iraq.
Two IMS Model 7012 HP Versi-Dredge units on the Niger River.
An IMS 5012 HP Versi-Dredge performing maintenance dredging on the River Thames.
An IMS 7012 HP Versi-Dredge works on the Kishon River project in Israel.
An IMS 7012 HP Versi-Dredge deepens a river in India.
An IMS 7012 HP cuts an emergency channel through a sand bank in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The project was so successful that the government purchased a second 7012 HP Versi-Dredge.
A 7012 HP Versi-Dredge works in conjunction with several amphibious excavators to create a new river route. The amphibious excavators were used to lower the overburden level and remove large bushes.
An IMS 5012 HP Versi-Dredge performs maintenance dredging of a river in North Dakota and discharges into geotextile tubes. The dredge was propelled using the secondary cable drive system.
The Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) uses their IMS 5012 LP Versi-Dredge to deepen a river in Pampanga as part of the governments flood mitigation program.
A contractor in the Philippines uses their IMS 7012 HP Versi-Dredge to deepen a river.
A contract in Mexico uses their IMS 5012 LP Versi-Dredge for a maintenance dredging contract with the government. The contractor also used the WeedMaster cutterhead to remove a dense vegetation cover.
An IMS 5012 LP Versi-Dredge performs maintenance dredging of the Golden Horn River in Turkey.
An IMS 7012 HP Versi-Dredge performs a river maintenance dredging contract in the Philippines.
Versi-Dredge Capabilities
The Versi-Dredge has been utilized for various river dredging activities around the globe, including flood mitigation, sand mining, navigation channel deepening, and environmental dredging. The Versi-Dredge’s one-truck transportable design allows municipal governments and contractors to quickly deploy the dredge to a trouble spot and open it up to maintain proper depth and hydraulic flow. The dredge can then easily be removed by a single crane and stored off site until it is needed for river maintenance again.
In the case of environmental dredging, the Versi-Dredge can be outfitted with a customized pump that can cut and pump cans, bottles, plastic bags, ropes, rice sacks, etc. without clogging like normal hydraulic dredges do. This allows operators to remove silt and mud from rivers where dense populations have used the river as a trash can.
In the case of pollution clean-up, the Versi-Dredge can be put into cable drive mode and a GPS system and environmental cutterhead can perform surgical dredging in a precision grid format to remove layers of contaminated materials from rivers and pump them to a water treatment plant on shore.
An IMS Model 5012 LP Versi-Dredge® cleans silt, sand, and debris from river flowing through the City of Marikina, Philippines.
An IMS Model 7012 HP Versi-Dredge® deepens a river in the Philippines.
An IMS Model 5012 LP Versi-Dredge® cleaning the contaminated Bogota River in Colombia.
An IMS Model 5012 LP Versi-Dredge® uses the IMS Broadcaster Discharge Attachment to spray nutrient rich mud onto mangroves in Trinidad.
An IMS Model 7012 HP Versi-Dredge® with a Dual Broadcaster Discharge Attachment dredges a river channel in Iowa to prevent future flooding.
News
IMS Delivers A Dual-function Dredger + Harvester To The Bureau Of Reclamation Lower Colorado Region Multi-species Conservation Program
ARIZONA – IMS recently delivered and commissioned a dual-function IMS 5012 LP Versi-Dredge® to the Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region of the US Department
Israel Begins Sediment Dredging In One Of Its Most Notorious Waterways
A giant sewage dredger has begun extracting sediment from the Kishon River, kicking off the latest stage of rehabilitation efforts in what was once Israel’s most polluted waterway.
Philippines Mayor Invests in Versi-Dredge to Save Lives and Money
Marikina City’s IMS Model 5012 LP Versi-Dredge has been successfully operational since early 2014 in Marikina River.
Israeli Environmental Protection Minister Launches IMS Versi-Dredge to Restore Kishon River
The dredging of the Kishon River has officially begun, with the ultimate goal of eliminating the pollution that has plagued the riverbed for decades.
Versi-Dredge® Prevents Flooding in Philippines
The town Mayor Mario Magno has announced that the San Enrique dredging project will begin in the fall, probably October.
IMS 7012 HP Exceeds Expectations Dredging Sand in Liberia
BAM International, a Dutch construction company, was awarded a contract by APM Terminals to operate a 25-year concession at the Port of Monrovia by the Liberian Government.
IMS 7012HP Versi-Dredge® Dredges a River Channel in Iowa
FEMA funded the purchase of the IMS Model 7012 HP Versi-Dredge® which will allow a local irrigation district to minimize damage to infrastructure and private property during the rainy season.
Mayor of Olongapo City, Philippines Gives Thumbs up for IMS 5012 HP Versi-Dredge®
Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. proudly announced the arrival of the first Olongapo City-owned dredging machine to the residents of Abra St., Brgy. Barretto at the Gordon HELPS Caravan.
Brunei Gears up For Monsoon Season
In preparation for the rainy season, which may cause flooding, a specialised sophisticated dredger machine was deployed in several major channels at the Menglait and Kedayan rivers.
Brunei Receives A Dredger To Control Flooding
Brunei might have just found a solution to “better control” flood situations, as a new, efficient and economical dredge has arrived in the Sultanate to deepen and de-silt rivers, lakes, coastal areas and marinas.
IMS Dredges Assist Iraq Ministry of Water Resources and Iraqi Navy with Reconstruction Efforts
IMS Division of LWT, LLC has been active in the maintenance of Iraqi waterways from 2006 to present as part of Iraq reconstruction.
Frequently Asked Questions
River dredging is essential for flood control because silt, sand and debris build up over time and narrow the channel, reducing its capacity to carry high flows. Removing that sediment restores the river’s cross-section so floodwaters pass safely instead of overtopping banks and damaging property. IMS Versi-Dredges are used in flood-mitigation programs worldwide, from the Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways to FEMA-funded channel work in Iowa. Regular maintenance dredging is a proven way to reduce flood risk.
Rivers and channels are dredged with a hydraulic dredge that cuts and pumps sediment as a slurry to a disposal or reuse area. IMS one-truck transportable, self-propelled Versi-Dredges are widely used for channel maintenance and flood prevention — commonly the high-production 7012 HP on larger rivers, with the 5012 LP and 5012 HP on smaller ones. IMS units work on rivers including the Tigris and Euphrates in Iraq, the Niger, the Thames and the Marikina in the Philippines. The model is matched to the river’s depth, flow and material.
A hydraulic river dredge uses a rotating SolidsMaster® horizontal auger cutterhead to loosen compacted silt, sand and debris, which the ladder-mounted pump then lifts and moves through a pipeline as a slurry to a spoil area. The enclosed auger removes material continuously and cleanly with low turbidity compared with mechanical methods. The cutterhead is selected for the river’s material.
Yes. IMS self-propelled dredges are designed for challenging rivers — patented Starwheel Drive® with TractionMaster® technology gives traction and control in current, and shallow-draft configurations let them work in low water. A secondary cable-drive system is included as standard for situations where it is preferred. For high-flow conditions IMS typically recommends the powerful 7012 HP. The configuration is matched to your river’s flow and depth.
The right river dredge depends on channel width and depth, flow conditions, the material (silt, sand or gravel) and how far you must pump. For higher-flow rivers and channel maintenance IMS commonly recommends the high-production 7012 HP, while smaller rivers and canals suit the 5012 LP or 5012 HP. Share your river’s depth, flow and length and IMS will match the right model and cutterhead.
Dredged river material is pumped to a designated spoil or containment area where it dewaters — often into geotextile tubes — and clean sand and sediment can frequently be beneficially reused for fill, bank building or aggregate, while unsuitable material is disposed of per permit. IMS supplies discharge accessories such as the Broadcaster attachment to place material where you need it. Planning the spoil area and reuse options early keeps the project efficient and compliant.
