US 12,410,584 B2
Visual cues to reduce marine life mortality during a dredging operation
Paul LaMourie, Naperville, IL (US); Steve Becker, Downers Grove, IL (US); and Justin Rensch, Glendale Heights, IL (US)
Assigned to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by GREAT LAKES DREDGE & DOCK COMPANY, LLC, Oak Brook, IL (US)
Filed on Jul. 16, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/930,575.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/875,223, filed on Jul. 17, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0017734 A1, Jan. 21, 2021
Int. Cl. E02F 3/92 (2006.01); A01M 29/10 (2011.01); E02F 3/88 (2006.01); E02F 3/90 (2006.01)
CPC E02F 3/9243 (2013.01) [A01M 29/10 (2013.01); E02F 3/885 (2013.01); E02F 3/90 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for dredging a seabed, comprising:
a trailing suction hopper dredger, the trailing suction hopper dredger comprising:
a hull in contact with a body of water;
a rail coupled to the hull;
a dredge arm coupled to the rail, the dredge arm comprising;
an upper suction pipe coupled to the rail;
a lower suction pipe coupled to the upper suction pipe;
a drag head coupled to the lower suction pipe, the drag head in fluid communication with the lower suction pipe and configured to contact the seabed;
a visual marine life deterrent coupled to an intermediate location along the dredge arm via a connector, the connector including a flexible portion extending from the dredge arm, such that the visual marine life deterrent is movably suspended in the water between a sea floor and a surface of the water, the visual marine life deterrent configured to direct light toward the sea floor where marine life may be located, the light configured to be observable by the marine life, thereby influencing the marine life to move away from the dredge arm; and
a pump coupled to the upper suction pipe, the pump in fluid communication with the upper suction pipe and configured to draw material toward the upper suction pipe from the seabed.