Page 48 - 00 Volume 5 The Mine
P. 48
The cutting head of the dredge, with its drive shaft and supporting gantries
are silhouetted against the dredge. One of the mooring cables is visible
behind the cutting head. Two 360 horsepower diesel engines drove the
main pumps. The dredge is 90 feet long and has a draught of five feet.
Dutch born dredge master Peter Erkelens looks out from the dredge’s bridge.
He’s been in the dredging business all of his life, beginning when he was 12. He
came to New Zealand from Australia. Three shift bosses work under him to keep
the dredge working around the clock.
