Machine Guidance Technology Streamlines Marina Dredging

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia-based McQuade Marine is a family-owned business that has been a dredging contractor since 1969.

McQuade Marine, renowned for dredging expertise since 1969, achieved unprecedented efficiency in a critical marina maintenance project at Sanctuary Cove Marina on the Gold Coast. They successfully removed 5,550 cubic meters (7,265 cu.yds.) of mud-like material within a challenging two-week deadline, minimising disruptions for marina users and nearby residents.

Customer Profile: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia-based McQuade Marine is a family-owned business that has been a dredging contractor since 1969.

Business Challenge: Perform maintenance dredging on marinas and channels in Queensland, Australia with greater accuracy and speed.

Solutions:

Benefits:

Improved underwater visualisation
Tight positioning
More efficient day-to-day activities
Easy to prepare comprehensive reports to owners and clients

Located on the Coomera River, Sanctuary Cove Marina is a thriving recreational hub with four man-made marinas, over 300 moorings, and a dedicated superyacht berth. McQuade Marine navigated the complexities of dredging around berthing pockets and pontoons by leveraging advanced GNSS-enabled machine control and specialised marine software. This innovative approach provided real-time seabed profiling, ensuring precise material removal without the inefficiencies of traditional methods.

McQuade Marine implemented an innovative strategy by integrating the Trimble Earthworks machine control system with Trimble Marine Construction (TMC) software on their excavator. This advanced setup provided a comprehensive real-time 3D view of operations, showcasing the surveyed surface, design specifications, and dredging depth, alongside the positions of the excavator, Faucon dredger, and GHT1 barge.

“With TMC, we have 3D visibility of the seabed profile, allowing precise targeting and removal of specific materials,” explained Alexander Brink, a systems expert at McQuade Marine. “It’s significantly more efficient than traditional methods or our previous workflows combining machine control and dredger coordination. This technology reduces guesswork and reliance on operator experience alone.”

To optimise material targeting, regular hydrographic surveys were directly uploaded into TMC, enabling the excavator operator to focus on areas needing further dredging.

A pivotal feature was the Wi-Fi connectivity between the excavator operator and dredger skipper, facilitating real-time sharing of vessel positioning and 3D model data. “Wi-Fi-enabled TMC screens allow operators to optimise their positions and reduce downtime,” Brink elaborated. “Both operators can see the excavator’s reach and bucket position, enabling precise manoeuvring. This capability has been transformative.”

Brink highlighted the real-time advantages of the integrated TMC and Trimble Earthworks system, emphasising its ability to immediately target areas needing adjustment based on updated hydrographic data. This not only enhanced material removal efficiency but also streamlined volume progress reporting, benefiting project management and customer satisfaction.