Dredging International on board with Clear-Com 

Dredging International Asia Pacific (DIAP) has selected a Clear-Com FreeSpeak II wireless communication solution to keep its crane operators and riggers connected across a vast Singapore-based crane barge known as Delta Prince. The FreeSpeak II solution was supplied and installed by Clear-Com’s dealer Electronics & Engineering.

Specialising in the fields of dredging, marine engineering and environmental remediation, DIAP focuses on the construction and development of ports and harbours, artificial islands, estuarial dams, canals, dyke construction, beach replenishment and coastal protection. As such, the company was looking for a full-duplex wireless intercom solution that would work reliably across a wide roaming area, given the considerable size of the canal barge, which measures over 70m in length and over 25m in breadth. The chosen solution had to tolerate the harsh outdoor environment on board the crane barge, where it would be subjected to diverse weather conditions.

‘Our colleagues in Europe had used Clear-Com before and they recommended that we approach Clear-Com for assistance,’ said Raj Baiju, technical superintendent at DIAP. ‘Clear-Com set up a demo of FreeSpeak II for us which was most impressive. The wireless beltpack was more than 200m away from the transceiver’s antenna during the demo and we did not have any interference issues; the range of the FreeSpeak II greatly exceeded our expectations.’

Mr Baiju also praised the rugged features of the FreeSpeak II system: ‘FreeSpeak II was the ideal product for this installation, since the antennas and beltpacks are IP-rated, we don’t have to worry about them getting damaged in the rain or working outdoors,’ he concluded.