The Largest Waterside Excavator In the USA | Dredging the Boston Harbor | Great Lakes Dredge & Dock

[@AaronWitt]

Give us the Scoop: Insert any questions you have below.

[@efficiencymc5822]

How do they know they dug the required amount everywhere they need to?

[@johndurica832]

@@efficiencymc5822 they have survey boats that map the sea floor during the project to check and make sure they are digging to the proper depth and the bucket/boom has a depth sensor so they know what depth it’s digging at

[@cjesbensen997]

What was the cable coming from the A frame connect to the shovel

[@nickreed6016]

Is he not getting much material because he’s almost at depth or is it hard digging? In the first section of video

[@keithchill1626]

Are you still in Boston?

[@FlyTyer1948]

I live near Boston & have been watching the dredging. It’s nice to get the on-vessel views of the dredgers at work.

[@jamesweir2943]

One of those rigs was here in Florida about a year ago working in the Stuart Florida area dredging the main channel

[@travishauser]

I remember watching an episode of Modern Marvels where they highlighted The New York dredge. Gosh, that episode has to be 20+ years old and yet, the machine doesn't look like its aged too much. They clearly take care of it!

[@r.s.w.5854]

Paint it twice a year

[@TOPTECH-r3r]

I love your videos! I just found your channel about a week ago and really appreciate the excellent quality of your content!

[@TechGorilla1987]

I haven't a clue why KZbin brought this to me but @6:25 - So far, I am SUPER impressed with your audio and video editing prowess. I'm not ashamed to admit that I have "old man' ears, but I am able to listen to this video without the background music being distracting. Kudos, young man!

[@AaronWitt]

thank you so much I really appreciate the kind words!!!

[@jeffrandolf5673]

"... SUPER impressed .." Try to remove "SUPER" as an adverb or adjective from your vocabulary. You sound like a high school girl.

[@TechGorilla1987]

@@jeffrandolf5673 I most certainly will not. I will use the words I choose and prefer. Your opinion is superfluous and irrelevant. "Mommy, the bad man used silly words to communicate. Hug me.

[@lukemodo3160]

Always love watching your videos. Never stop with these consistent uploads. Can’t believe this channel isn’t bigger than it is

[@AaronWitt]

thanks Luke. We'll be big time one day haha

[@Truckydon]

As I watch the videos daily this was the first thing I said too this man give you all different type of videos

[@NecroDingus]

I was working on the NY for the entire Boston project. I must have been on time off when you guys came out because this is the first I'm hearing about your video. GG nice one.

[@AaronWitt]

Fantastic. Maybe we'll catch you on the next one

[@daveschowengerdt2248]

Yes grt video and it showed how awesome the crew was to teach and explain things. Really awesome when u see that

[@4ilxn]

Unreal, amazing video once again

[@AaronWitt]

thank you for watching!

[@Mr_Big_Quack]

ive been wait for this episode since he first went there last year. im so glad its here

[@AaronWitt]

sorry it took a bit!!

[@tjeerdveenhoven]

Another great machine! love it. Nice channel, there is just a lot of you in most of the videos, would love to see more machine... operating... doing their things. voice overs are a good thing.

[@staggerinstanton56]

Absolutely amazing. Completely different than every thing I've done. Thank you for sharing

[@AaronWitt]

thank you for watching Andrew

[@timslager5966]

Thanks for the video, it reminded me of when they dredged out Lynn Harbor back in the 60's. I remember they had a shovel type rig, weren't too concerned about dirty water back then. Loved the music score, just enough and cool. Thanks for sharing 👍 👍 Also, I love my Redwing boots been wearing the brand for 30+ years

[@AaronWitt]

thank you for watching Tim!

[@skipd9164]

Life long Lynn resident. Worked for gas company in same location. Back in the 60s nobody cared about hazardous waste. Now a major part of Lynn harbor especially near the natural gas tank has been determined to be a hazardous site yet you never hear about it. You still see people illegally catching different types of shellfish in that area. Plenty of signs saying no fishing or trapping. They don't realize what health problems the future holds

[@techman9634]

I love your videos! I just found you like a week ago and no joke this brings the kid out in me haha. I was the kid that would rent VHS and DVD'S about equipment from Library's and movie rental places and just be as happy as I could be. And this is like the big kid version! My Nephews love it too (my son's only a year and a half.... So he's a little young)

[@leemeyer4717]

So cool I've come across this video. I kayak the harbor and I've saw these diggers off castle island. One morning they were blasting. Super cool

[@joekielbowich2660]

Love your work subjects

[@Rds1993]

Have worked with these guys some in the past on a few projects I had. True pros.

[@danny88dh]

Great video fellas that operation is really interesting and really cool to see in such detail I definitely wouldn't mind seeing more of these kind of projects

[@AaronWitt]

Thanks for watching Daniel

[@kylerdeese1252]

Thats the New York, i worked on a tugboat back in 2018 assisting that dredge when it was digging out Charleston harbor in Charleston sc ive gotta a couple pics and videos floating around some where of it running and digging, was really cool to watch while tied along side it

[@AaronWitt]

That’s awesome

[@SupermanJH68]

GLDD. Excellent company.

[@nicksargent9124]

you should check out feeney brothers in dorchester mass. absolutely massive fleet

[@beantownwelder8132]

Great Video My Father did the blasting and dredging for Dutra co. in the early 90's for the Ted Williams Tunnel. I have bunch photos of it .

[@AaronWitt]

oh boy that's fantastic

[@kingbuzzo8703]

Who is your dad? My dad has been with dutra since the 96 deepening and I have been with them for over a decade.

[@mondo_stunts27]

Nice entertaining informational videos, every single one I want to comment how young you guys look. I feel like I’m having a teenager explain everything.

[@AaronWitt]

that's because we are young. Thanks for watching!

[@IceYaBong]

I assume the cable attached to the boom is just a way to drag the boom out of the water incase of hydraulic or engine failure?

[@AaronWitt]

no it engages every time to take some weight off the hydraulics

[@scottmcquarrie7295]

This machine usually works in the Hudson river area. From Bayonne up to the George Washington Bridge in fort Lee. I saw it in person from the shore

[@bobbybabsonjr787]

Worked on the Apache for a week in the Cape Fear river setting delays , and booster charges for the next day shot back in 2002 . Worked for Great Lakes for 3 years on Dredge Texas, spider barge , and booster 6 . Thanks for the video.

[@dyablodyablo1333]

Hello! If i know land excavator should i know water one too?

[@clarencebosma7182]

At about 9:10 he talks about scuffer tubes. On this particular project they don’t want overflow. I am just wondering what the issue is with not draining the overflow.

[@imchris5000]

you should try and get down to clearwater florida they are in the middle of a massive project building a new bridge for I275 its miles of cranes on barges would make an interesting video

[@AndyB718]

Great Lakes is HUGE and has a part in alot of construction also. Last i saw of them was Staten Island near the port.

[@robertschlosser6681]

I was one of the crewboat captains on this project it’s was a fun project.

[@OUKRH5]

Is that gantry type "crane" cable that is connected to the main boom, really a support to lift it up, or only used when it would be caught somehow, or the hydraulik could fail?

[@AaronWitt]

it takes some of the pressure off as it lifts up each cycle

[@loganbrown3095]

This is so awesome. Love your content. As a plumber I am speechless at how deep the sewer line is under the bay and I can’t figure out how they got it there. Any answers?

[@AaronWitt]

Not a clue haha I wish I asked

[@animenut69]

The same way rail tunnels were built back in the day, Miners digging it out by hand and blasting

[@patrickinchicago8652]

@@animenut69 this would be the way. Dollars to donuts it's basically a horizontal shaft under the water, and it's that deep because they didn't want to risk flooding the tunnels.

[@chriswielenga9882]

It sounded like you were going to ask

[@charlesmullins3238]

I live in eastern Ky grew up in the 80s within rock throwin distance of surface mine and never knew how bad I’d miss havin to follow loaded 800 macks every morning to school….pick up pictures the blast knocked off walls….deal with 3 silt ponds bein dredged hualin that thick grey clay mud out the holler all the time….one time a boulder made it down the hollerfill hit the pond and splashed almost to the house…200yrds away..eucs and at one time wasidas hauled rock while 92s and old 10s mainly pushin…neighbor got so many cent a ton hualin across her land we were just shy of ownin enuff to benefit…

[@HardHatHammer]

Dose that cable on top of the boom help the excavator pick up or is it in case it breaks down and they can get the boom up

[@AaronWitt]

Yep it helps lift it up each cycle

[@patrickinchicago8652]

Not mechanically necessary, but it increases cycle times.

[@jakeadair8292]

Can't imagine how much grease alone they go through daily. Also, wonder how often they have to rebuild the stick/linkage and bearings bushings always in the water etc

[@AaronWitt]

Any equipment working around water gets wildly abused

[@jakeadair8292]

@@AaronWitt thanks for the reply, I miss the industry greatly and your channel is the best out there at bringing it to everyone. Keep it up.

[@goodeye03]

Great video. Thao was my playground for years.

[@TechGorilla1987]

@7:56 - I am keenly interested in why one of the 4 stacks is not "stacking" during this shot. That machine cannot have 4 engines surely.

[@muzza566]

Driven by two Cummins. K 1800 E delivering 1120 kW or 1500 HP each,

[@SmashingBricksAU]

Is this 996 part rope shoval? That line to the boom looks to be assisting it lift back out of the water

[@ButterflyMatt]

Very cool.

[@matthewwindisch9449]

I’d love to see more cruise ships leaving out of Boston!

[@86FxBdyCpe]

Prior to Covid, the Black Falcon Terminal was fairly busy during the cruise season. I've sailed many a time out of Boston, it's close to home.

[@matthewwindisch9449]

@@86FxBdyCpe I’m a big RCCL fan, I’d love to see some of their newer ships come to Boston..

[@86FxBdyCpe]

@@matthewwindisch9449 They are spectacular for sure. But possibly to big (usually over 5 Thousand passengers, right?) for the infrastructure; terminal, parking, etc.

[@matthewwindisch9449]

@@86FxBdyCpe ya, would be nice to see the “ Freedom Class “ make it there, but unfortunately your probably right. No parking etc..

[@cardudeman6104]

Cool video. One of my sons just hired on with GLDD as a site engineer. Looks like an interesting job!

[@johnsearl6431]

still stirring the tea.....LOL....from NZ

[@AaronWitt]

Good one John haha

[@richardmorrison2686]

Very nice thank you

[@njonebale7889]

How many yards of capacity is the bucket on that excavator? That’s pertinent information I didn’t hear you mention.

[@AaronWitt]

I think they were running an around 25 CY bucket

[@berkoskilandscaping4247]

What was the cable that's connected to the boom and stick joint and then back up to the ship for any idea?

[@jimsvideos7201]

Extra power for the lift at a guess but ...?

[@AaronWitt]

Yeah it helps the machine lift up more efficiently

[@GriffinPearson]

Just found your channel, amazing content

[@AaronWitt]

Glad you’re here. Thanks for watching

[@ernierundall1336]

Great video I would love to go there and see it.

[@paulbrown9206]

Amazing video keep it up.

[@AaronWitt]

Thanks Paul

[@eddiecongdontrucking]

An Incredible Machine !

[@BillyandBart]

What do they do with the material once loaded on the barges? Neat to see, good job Aaron.

[@AaronWitt]

They haul it out to the ocean and dump it

[@johannessamuelsson6578]

@@AaronWitt Seems wasteful when they could sell it to an aggregates producer. But I think I get why they dump it.

[@edgregg7371]

While Great Lakes is one of the largest dredging firms in the US, you should venture just north of Boston to Quincy, MA, home of J Cashman. At the time it was built, Cashman's Dale Pyatt dredge comes in at 60 yd, largest in the western hemisphere.

[@AaronWitt]

I've heard good things about them

[@patrickinchicago8652]

I've heard operators talk about the specs between the two, and what's bigger and better about this one or that, cycle times, etc. etc. But only good things about the Dale Pyatt.

[@darrenslatta]

How come the cab is on the right hand side of the machine?

[@dvdlebiem7903]

Maybe because the machine is unloading on the right side so that way the operator has a better view but I could be wrong

[@thatsinteresting8810]

I don’t think it matters out a sea lol

[@richardmoore609]

It's eurospec.

[@Dinoxt12]

Interesting...Wondering if any Local 4 operating engineers Boston, where working on this project ?

[@dyslexiccone6676]

This channel should have 100X more subs than it does

[@AaronWitt]

We’re on our way

[@joeberry8076]

Aaron, thanks for the great video. Do you happen to know what dredging software they are utilizing?

[@AaronWitt]

Thanks for watching Joe. Not sure what they use specifically

[@slambert00]

The line going from the crane-looking thing, to the boom of the excavator.. what is that for?

[@AaronWitt]

Helps raise it out of the water

[@NateKK7]

15:19 I got stung today, compared to wasps it felt like a pin prick. I was actually surprised at how little bee’s hurt, because I know how much wasps hurt. It stopped hurting after about 10 minutes and the swelling lasted only an hour or so.

[@stalyn936]

Esa excavadora es una verdadera bestia cuanta potensia para realizar ese tio de trabajos realmente impresionante

[@mihaiarmy666]

One of the most badass jobs around today

[@MrCantabrigian]

how was your beautiful East Somerville AirBNB? hahaha The intersection you showed heading out in the morning is on the way to my machine shop just down the street.

[@AaronWitt]

Imagine that

[@DaddyB122]

My stepdad dredges with them offshore in Texas right now, great company

[@clintonpasseno9145]

What's the purpose of the cable attached to the boom, and running up to the A frame behind the machine?

[@robhowe4th]

I dad was captain of the JP Boisseau which is a Leibherr 995 excavator dredge they worked a lot in the New York harbor

[@AaronWitt]

wow that's awesome

[@robhowe4th]

@@AaronWitt my first job when I was 18 was in Port Newark, NJ solidifying dredge spoils in barges with Portland cement which once cured within 24 hours was getting sent to cap off a landfill. That was back in 04-05 & I'm originally from southeast Texas. Unfortunately I never got the chance to run the 995 dredge but I stood in the bucket lol

[@jnnym21]

Great Lakes made a deal with the NJ DEP to dispose of dredge rock to the artificial reefs from the Delaware River. Has made some great habitat

[@4RBLUE]

Just found your channel. Great video. I wonder what the life span of the equipment is, being in saltwater all the time.

[@rangeroverl322]

What was the cable running from the excavator boom to the crane ?

[@AaronWitt]

Helps lift it back up

[@marcusgault9909]

How do Leibherr cope with the constant salt water immersion and exposure, when the Cat bulldozer (in the california scraper vlog)had to get a full rebuild by Quinn Cat after a single exposure? And, also, why is there a wire from the sheerlegs "helping" lift the boom of the big hydraulic excavator, or what is its true purpose?

[@raynetorrin]

Not sure it is helping it seems too small. Its almost like a safety to keep ahold of the arm if it came off? Not sure.

[@robertschlosser6681]

I worked that project. It took a beating!

[@agoogleaccount2861]

If you find some empty teakwood and iron tea chests.. dry em out and save em ..they belong in a local museum they're still down there someplace probably somewhat intact because of materials. In 1775 a bunch were thrown overboard in Boston harbor and they sink .. I'm sure they're still down there.

[@AaronWitt]

We’ll keep a lookout

[@timvolkmer1121]

Why does the excavator has that cable on the boom?

[@ral3178]

I was thinking the same thing, maybe if it stalls out then the crane can get the boom out of the water so the boat is not stuck in the shipping lane?????

[@timvolkmer1121]

@@ral3178 I’ve thought of that too but the cable looks a bit flimsy

[@drg-45]

@@timvolkmer1121 It could be due to the weight in the bucket and extension of the arm makes it difficult to pull up so the cable just helps it along a little bit

[@ral3178]

@@timvolkmer1121 I agree

[@tosgood71]

@@ral3178 Could it help to distribute some of the weight of the boom so that the barge doesn't list to that side?

[@danielemanuelsson4233]

The idea of the size of the bucket and what you get up feels like a lot of work.

[@spencerh8042]

It doesn’t help that he can’t see what he’s scoopin up

[@daveschowengerdt2248]

Question is it because of the extra water weight on the bucket and arm that they have to have the support of the cable on the arm?

[@AaronWitt]

yep it helps bring the boom and bucket up each time

[@daveschowengerdt2248]

@@AaronWitt do u know if it comes like that from factory or is it something they designed after realizing it needed a little help? I imagine that the water adds a ton more weight when bringing bucket up. Makes a persons mind start turning and wonder if adding drain holes for water to escape from if that would help release some of the water weight?

[@daveschowengerdt2248]

Wanted to say thank you for the grt videos I’m guessing ur a lot like me where we never grew out of the sand box just the sand box toys got a lot bigger and a lot more expensive than the Walmart toys.lol

[@FINISHOperator88]

@arronwitt i would like to see more beach renourishment content w d6ts hawging sand

[@crazydutchbloke]

So why is there a rope connected to the top of the boom of that excavator? I see that a lot over in the states.

[@AaronWitt]

helps to lift it out of the water

[@KK-qc5ct]

Interesting that you delve into investing in the future of rental equipment. Btw- bees communicate the location of food sources by performing a little dance of which the understanding is exclusive to bees.

[@brianb2454]

WAIT THIS IS BOSTON? Wthhhhhh I wish I knew this was going on I just moved out of the city and bought my first house in Fitchburg I run equipment for a living at a gravel processing plant I’d love to know the company running the job we supply national grid, and Feeny brothers. If your in the Boston area you 100% have seen feeny around. Your welcome for the material

[@sayeelparab1422]

What's the height to the top of the cab?

[@3000gtalex]

Yeah, I’m gunna need some buildwitt shirts how do we get some 😎

[@AaronWitt]

working on it I promise

[@daveoshea2001]

You had me at spuds Oh wrong potatoes

[@ronlawson5819]

Awesome video when will we see Atlantic Dismantling

[@AaronWitt]

soon

[@jeffrandolf5673]

Do fish float to the surface after a blast?

[@Ibnuromadhon20]

I like it..

[@msain427]

How do you get access to these projects? I can see normal ground projects but they're willing to take you out on a ship in this one. 100,000 viewers is a lot for whatever publicity they want but it's not crazy amount so is there a fee

[@keithchill1626]

Damn I wish I knew you were gunna be in town

[@livestock9722]

As a dredging barge operator, I approve. However, hauling all that water would drive me nuts.

[@jascollinscork]

Yip unreal setup!! BUT big under water excavations and excavators go on like this all the time!!!! Seen some around 🇮🇪 and heard of loads around Europe!! And will you be ok since the mic wasn’t on 🤔😜

[@paulprigge1209]

It’s not something we see in the Midwest unless you’re close to the Mississippi or Missouri .

[@patrickinchicago8652]

Few of them are the scale of the New York. Hard to tell on a KZbin video, but up until a few years ago, she was the biggest in the world. Still the biggest in the US, and one of 3 or 4 of its class in the world. Most of the mechanical dredgers aren't excavators, they're clamshells.

[@bardapenes8299]

You had to travel to Citronen mine at Grennland

[@nicholasbergvik2910]

What happend whith the material they dig up?

[@ninetyseven7656]

Thanks

[@rayanchenafa8346]

Show us some more Neom please!!

[@drg-45]

Why did he say "Nothing to see here" while walking past explosive lockers 🤣

[@KK-qc5ct]

And the journalist looks on eating a candy bar and offers intriguing commentary- "wild"- you pull it off tho bro. You're living the dream don't stop.

[@allanharris4492]

Now that would be a video, the building of that sewer

[@owenmorong3150]

How is that duty not super rusted being in that environment?

[@joshsegg2814]

Watched 20 video for that face when he is impressed it's like he's constipated

[@Fossillarson]

That be awesome job for 10 year contract digging every day in the harbor:)

[@raymondgochenour8725]

I enjoyed it too

[@Mars2Point0]

I really miss the simple minded 8 hour grind of nothing in the world matters but the task at hand

[@AaronWitt]

a lost art huh

[@clashtwo5066]

Fun thing about Boston: you’ll be amazed if you look up how many Dunkin Donuts there are in the entire city. (And yes I still call them Dunkin Donuts, I never drop the Donuts)

[@86FxBdyCpe]

Lots. Not to mention N.E. as a whole.

[@joshwilson3796]

Do fish float to the surface after a blast? I don't mind either way, I would just be curious

[@AaronWitt]

Nah it’s not big enough and feel like I remember them saying they do something to scare anything off beforehand

[@chriswielenga9882]

@Luke Modo. Well I don’t think this is interesting stuff to the general population; I think it’s great. This dredging seems like an awfully slow and expensive process! Question: what benefit is it to GLDD for you to video this job and their expense to shuttle you to their ships and the manager taking his time to give you the tour? Just wondering.

[@AaronWitt]

Because we can share the experience and educate people about what they do