Amphibex Heads For Home

Tuesday, January 29, 2008 04:01 PM

Amphibex working the open channel in the lower Nechako (photo courtesy of City)

Prince George, B.C. - Eco Technologies’ Amphibex is being loaded onto a flat bed this hour to begin the long ride home.

The New Brunswick-based company’s 10-day contract expired at 4pm afternoon. The $375-thousand dollar bill -- $300-thousand for the excavation work on the Nechako River, $75-thousand in other expenses -- has been paid in full.

The unit worked eight days of the 10-day contract. At the request of City emergency officials, the Amphibex did not work yesterday or today because the ice being chipped away in the Nechako has started to pile up in the Fraser River, which is now frozen over.

City Liaison Officer, Kevin Brown, says the reasons for not extending the contract with Eco Technologies are three-fold:

there is now no place for the freed ice to go
safety - large ice breakaways on Friday and Sunday caused some tense moments. "It’s very, very dangerous work, as the Eco Technologies team would tell you," says Brown. "That’s why they could not work overnight, a full 24-hour shift because of safety concerns."
the warm water system is coming on line and is expected to keep the channel created by the Amphibex open

But Brown says, overall consensus is that the amphibious water excavator did a wonderful job.

"I think the Amphibex demonstrated clearly what it can do to help in the very difficult ice conditions that we have on the Nechako River." He says the unit is used to work with dealing with smooth, flat ice, and, "as the Eco Technologies crew would tell you, these were the most difficult ice conditions they’ve ever worked with." But Brown says, "They really appreciated the opportunity to come west and show us what the machine can do."

Asked whether the outright purchase of a similar machine could be part of the long-term solutions for flooding in the city and region -- a notion suggested by federal NDP Environment Critic Nathan Cullen on the weekend -- Brown says, "I would have to say that the idea will be one of many to be discussed."

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Posted on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 04:01 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: heidi1555 on January 29 2008 6:54 PM

Too bad the Fraser wasn't in "better health" before the winter came as the Amphibex really is an excellent machine and made a lot of progress considering the situation it was thrown into. It takes a great group of guys to pack up and travel across Canada in winter to try and help out a city in trouble. Very glad they came and very glad to see what the Amphibex can do. I'd love to see one in our area before next November to prevent this from happening all over again next December. Have a safe trip home Eco Technologies and thanks!

Posted by: owl on January 29 2008 7:25 PM

With the current in the Nechako, I was surprised it was able to do what it did.

If the channel it opened can stay open in the sequences of cold weather we may still get between now and spring, it has protected properties below the Cameron Street Bridge. Above that is another matter.

With little control of how much ice breaks off, with repect to chunk size, as it "nibbles" through it, it is most clearly a dangerous job.

It would seem to me that it would be less dangerous if the propulsion is at the hoe end of the machine with directional stabilizers on the sides or in the back to keep it oriented properly. That way much of what it breaks off does not interfere with the floating platform as it drops off into the water right near the side of the platform and floats downstream.

But, maybe they tried that and found it was too difficult to maneuver.

I must say, if they envisaged working shifts to total 24 hours per day for much of their stay and that is what their contract was based on, and only worked one 8 or so hour shift per day, the payment is a touch on the high side, to put it mildly.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on January 29 2008 7:25 PM

They did great considering what they were dealing with!
If they had a shot at it in the early stages of the jam,they might have had a hope.
Even in spite of that,they likely carved a big enough hole that the flow volune increased enough to keep the flooding to a minimum.
At least,now we know what they can do.Great advertising for Amphibex!
Thanks guys!

Posted by: Chester on January 29 2008 7:33 PM

I was very surprised at how effective the Amphibex was, considering it's size and the size of the challenge it faced. I would like to thank the team who came to help us out with their machine. We appreciate their efforts and wish them a safe trip back. I have no problem with the cost or their fee to come. This machine isn't available in to many places. We were fortunate to have one available and operators willing to come and work in a less than desirable environment. Chester

Posted by: ChrisAnnB on January 29 2008 7:46 PM

Chester, I agree with everything you said 100%. :)

Posted by: Honestjoe on January 29 2008 10:18 PM

Yes, I agree with all the kind words that have been said here. I wish the Amphibex crew a safe trip home. Thanks to Heidi for bringing this machine to our attention. It has definitely proven itself under very trying conditons. Mother Nature did not give it any breaks. Thanks to Ben for delivering the information to the City. Credit should go where credit is due.

Posted by: Moses on January 29 2008 10:22 PM

Yeah. A half million bucks well spent.

Posted by: Eagleone on January 29 2008 10:35 PM

I see no reason why we can't build our very own river monster excavator right here in PG. We have a very high skill base in PG with the knowledge to build a plateform that floats on water in the river during ice jams and has the ability to excavate to manage the river flow. I figure it could be built by next fall if it was started on soon. There is nothing complicated about the process of building one IMO.

As for why the Amphibex was so potentially 'scary' to operate I think it was clearly because it was an underpowered vessal for the kind of task at hand. Clearly we would want to build a proper vessal rather then pay a half a million to rent a 'dangerous' unit everytime we get a cold spell.

There are many places in BC where it could be used. And for those that cry save the fish, I wonder what four months of glacial ice dredging the channel does for the fish, and how that would be any different than excavation?

Posted by: thereasonableman on January 30 2008 4:00 AM

Too bad the weather didn't co-operate more. Once it warms up, I think we are going to see big improvements, now that the channel is open.

A great job done by the digger boys.

Posted by: diplomat on January 30 2008 7:21 AM

"Credit should go where credit is due."

Definitely. Also, credit to those who make the decisions because once they were alerted to the existence of the Amphibex they went for that option right away without delay, albeit under the pressure of the circumstances.

Now, let's hope that after the frazil has melted the proper actions of dredging, dyking and installation of pumping stations will prevent high waters from ever flooding the lower areas again - preferably before next winter!

Posted by: opinionated on January 30 2008 12:50 PM

Thank you Heidi so much! You are a class act and someone who cares deeply for this community. Have you thought about running for council?

Posted by: heidi1555 on January 30 2008 2:25 PM

Mom is that you????
:) kidding opinionated and thanks so much. If Ben or Elaine becomes mayor i'll run for council!!! My family keeps telling me I should be a nurse but I have 3 youngish kids always attached to my legs and a husband that is so glad its me home with them and not him so there it is... lol...

;)