No_9_September_1969 — Page 33

Earth is brought to this giant spreader which can discharge the soil wherever it is required

mainly lies in the method of reclam- ation adopted. This is the use of bucket- wheel excavators for excavation, belt- conveyor for transportation of the soil from the hills to the beach and a spe- cially-designed spreader to deposit soil into the sea.

Conveyor belt system

Soil is being cut by the rotating buckets and carried upwards and drop- ped over backwards on to a moving rubber belt. From this point, it travels along a series of belt conveyors falling through a chute at the end of one belt into the next conveyor. The longest conveyors in use are each about 3,100 ft. At the end of the conveyor line is the spreader which can be arranged to move in any direction and the soil is discharged wherever it is required.

On each rainly day about 20,000 cu. yds. of soil are cut from the hills and on good dry days about 25,000 cu. yds. The complete earth-moving day is 24 hours out of which are periods when maintenance is carried out on a strict programme.

All in all the project is considered highly satisfactory bearing in mind that this is the first time in the world that coastal reclamation has been executed in this way. As to the rate of reclam-

ation, about 25 acres of new land is Some of the earth is brought directly to the sea

Far East BUILDER, September 1969

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