Underwater Blasting

Specialized harbour deepening techniques make Innovative Drilling the regional market leader in underwater blasting. The company has competitive systems and machinery that are adapted to a variety of water depths and overburdens.

For instance, they performed shallow water blasting for harbour deepening in Sandy Cove, Shelburne, Nova Scotia. The blast was initiated in six feet of water and delayed to bring the rock into the center so that the bulked up mass of rock formed a muck pile clear of the water.

Divers prepare to load charges for the blast at Denis Point.

Holes were drilled for underwater blasting using Innovative Drilling’s excavator mounted drill system. The holes were 30 feet below water. Denis Point, Lower East Pubnico, Nova Scotia.

Overburdened drills installed steel casings through blasted rock. Workers were then able to place explosives on the bottom of Tiverton Harbour.

Case study – The busy harbour of St. Lunaire-Griquet in Newfoundland needed to expand in order to service large offshore vessels. In 2003, Innovative Drilling increased the harbour’s capacity by surgically removing rock. Three to four meters of rock were cut from the seafloor within two meters of the wharf.

“We’re competing in a very crowded field because many contractors are capable of land based disposal dredging. Innovative Drilling has given us the competitive edge we need to win bids. They are fast, professional, and very knowledgeable blasting contractors.”
- Project Engineer David Mitchell, P. Eng., General Manager at Northland Contracting Inc.