The present invention relates to a system and method for uncovering and removing pipeline from the seafloor using a subsea trenching system using pressurized water to uncover pipe, a subsea shear carried by a barge to cut lengths of the pipeline, and a grapple carried by a barge to lift cut lengths of pipeline for placement on a pipe haul and recovery barge.

The present invention relates to a system and method for uncovering and removing pipeline from the seafloor using a subsea trenching system using pressurized water to uncover pipe, a subsea shear carried by a barge to cut lengths of the pipeline, and a grapple carried by a barge to lift cut lengths of pipeline for placement on a pipe haul and recovery barge.

A loading system for a material has a grab dredger configured to selectively engage the material, where the grab dredger includes a boom and a line configured to move a grab throughout a working space. The working space includes an arc within a plane defined by a first dimension and a second dimension, where a third dimension lies perpendicular to the plane. The working space includes a minimum engagement distance and a maximum engagement distance. A Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) module can locate a material acquisition point, a material deposit point, and at least one obstacle point. A controller operates the grab dredger to move the grab within the working space to selectively engage the material. The loading system can move the material from the material acquisition point to the material deposit point while negotiating the at least one obstacle point.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a dredging apparatus, including a buoyant platform having an upper surface, a lower surface configured to float on a body of water, and an opening having a horizontal cross-sectional area and extending from the upper surface through the lower surface. A set of supports, mechanically coupled to the platform, is configured to maintain a position of the buoyant platform above a dredge site at a bottom of the body of water. A turbidity curtain, coupled to the platform using a plurality of telescoping members, surrounds at least the horizontal cross-sectional area of the opening. A bubble tube frame, coupled to the turbidity curtain and extending outwardly therefrom to surround the turbidity curtain, includes a plurality of outlets configured to emit bubbles into the body of water around a perimeter of the dredge site.

The present invention relates to a system and method for uncovering and removing pipeline from the seafloor using a subsea trenching system using pressurized water to uncover pipe, a subsea shear carried by a barge to cut lengths of the pipeline, and a grapple carried by a barge to lift cut lengths of pipeline for placement on a pipe haul and recovery barge.