Patent Publication Number: US-10759506-B2

Title: Sluiceway for barge

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/360,603, filed on Mar. 21, 2019, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,486,778 on Nov. 26, 2019, which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/660,624, filed on Apr. 20, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/646,082, filed on Mar. 21, 2018. The entire disclosures of the above applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to hopper barges and, more particularly, to a device for retrofitting a hopper barge with a pumping system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Dredging is defined as the underwater removal of soil, such as sand, gravel, and rocks, and its transport from one place to another. A hopper barge is a marine vessel that is employed in dredging operations, and is primarily used to carry materials like rocks, gravel, sand, and rubbish, from one location to another for dumping. 
     An important use of such barges is in the bulk transfer of materials used for land reclamation projects. Such projects require the transport of large volumes of aggregates, i.e., sand, silt, and the like, that are dredged at one location, loaded onto the barges, and discharged at a site where land is being reclaimed. 
     One known type of hopper barge is known as the “split barge.” The split barge has a hull that selectively divides longitudinally between the end bulkheads. The vessel consists of two major parts, i.e., port and starboard halves. These halves are mostly symmetrical in design and are also hinged at the deck and operated by hydraulic cylinders. When the halves are closed, the hopper barge may be filled with materials for bulk transfer to another location. When the hopper barge is split opened, the contents of the hopper barge are dumped rapidly at the location of the hopper barge. 
     On many occasions, there is a need to dump the contents of the hopper barge onto a beach or disposal area on land, as opposed to dumping the contents of the hopper barge through the split opening of the hull. However, most hopper barges are not equipped to empty in this way. Retrofitting split-type hopper barges by installing pumping systems has heretofore been complicated, requiring significant changes to the structure of the barge. Such retrofitting operations are also time-consuming and expensive. 
     Further, even hopper barges that are already equipped with pumping systems are inefficient. It is difficult to empty the contents of these known barges even with pumps. 
     There is a continuing need for a sluiceway device and method of utilizing a hopper barge for pumping contents to a disposal area such as a beach. Desirably, the sluiceway device allows the hopper barge to be fully emptied in a more efficient manner than existing systems. 
     SUMMARY 
     In concordance with the instant disclosure, a sluiceway device and method of utilizing a hopper barge for pumping contents to a disposal area such as a beach, and which allows the hopper barge to be fully emptied in a more efficient manner than existing systems, is surprisingly discovered. 
     In one embodiment, a sluiceway device for a hopper barge includes an elongate main body defining a discharge channel. The elongate main body is configured to be disposed atop an inner surface of a hull of the hopper barge. The elongate main body is further configured to receive dredging material placed in the hopper barge. The elongate main body has a plurality of openings formed therein. There is a plurality of doors disposed adjacent the openings and configured to selectively seal and unseal the openings. Further, a discharge pump is in communication with the discharge channel. The discharge pump is configured to pump the dredging material from the discharge channel to a disposal area outside of the hopper barge. 
     In another embodiment, a sluiceway device for a hopper barge includes an elongate main body defining a discharge channel. The elongate main body is disposed atop an inner surface of a hull of the hopper barge. The elongate main body is further configured to receive dredging material placed in the hopper barge. The elongate main body has a plurality of openings formed therein. There is a plurality of doors disposed adjacent the openings and configured to selectively seal and unseal the openings. Further, a discharge pump is in communication with the discharge channel. The discharge pump is configured to pump the dredging material from the discharge channel to a disposal area outside of the hopper barge. 
     In a further embodiment, a method for operating the sluiceway device including providing a hopper barge and a sluiceway device with at least one opening. The sluiceway device has an elongate main body defining a discharge channel. The elongate main body is configured to be disposed atop an inner surface of a hull of the hopper barge. The elongate main body is configured to receive dredging material placed in the hopper barge. The main body has a plurality of openings formed therein. There is a plurality of doors disposed adjacent the openings and configured to selectively seal and unseal the openings. There is a discharge pump in communication with the discharge channel. The discharge pump is configured to pump the dredging material from the discharge channel to a disposal area outside of and spaced apart from the hopper barge. The method further includes filling the hopper barge with dredging material, opening the at least one opening to permit the dredging material to fall into the discharge channel, and pumping water into the discharge channel. The dredging material and water from the discharge channel are pumped from the hopper barge. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. The above, as well as other advantages of the present disclosure, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, particularly when considered in the light of the drawings described hereafter. 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a hopper barge having a sluiceway device installed therein, according to various embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional, front elevational view of the hopper barge taken along the section line A-A in  FIG. 1 , and depicting the sluiceway device according to one embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged, cross-sectional, front elevational view of the sluiceway device according to one embodiment of the disclosure and taken at call-out B in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged, cross-sectional, front elevational view of the sluiceway device according to another embodiment of the disclosure and taken at call-out B in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged, cross-sectional, front elevational view of the sluiceway device according to a further embodiment of the disclosure and taken at call-out B in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a hopper barge having a sluiceway device installed therein, according to yet another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged, cross-sectional, front elevational view of the sluiceway device taken at section line C-C in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged top plan view of a hatch opening device of the sluiceway device taken at call-out D in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional, side elevational view of the hatch opening device of the sluiceway device taken along section line E-E in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional, side elevational view of the hatch opening device of the sluiceway device taken at call-out F in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the hopper barge depicted in  FIG. 6 , the barge shown filled with dredging material; 
         FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the hopper barge depicted in  FIG. 10 , the barge shown in a process of emptying the dredging material; 
         FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the hopper barge depicted in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the barge further shown in the process of emptying the dredging material; and 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart that illustrates a method of using a sluiceway device for a barge as shown in  FIGS. 1-13 , according to various embodiments of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. In respect of the methods disclosed, the order of the steps presented is exemplary in nature, and thus, is not necessary or critical unless otherwise disclosed. 
     In  FIGS. 1-14 , a sluiceway device  100  for a barge and a method  200  for using the sluiceway device  100  for the barge, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, are shown. 
     The sluiceway device  100  may include an elongate main body  102  having a plurality of openings  104 , and a discharge pump  106 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sluiceway device  100  according to the present disclosure may be configured to be inserted or installed on an inner surface of a split hull of a hopper barge  108 . The hopper barge  108  may also have one or more additional pumps and conduits (not shown) in communication with the sluiceway device  100 , and which are configured to pump water to facilitate a movement of dredging material  109  (shown in  FIGS. 10-12 ) through the sluiceway device  100  to the end of the barge  108  with the discharge pump  106 . 
     The sluiceway device  100  may have an elongate main body  102 , for example, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 . The elongate main body  102  may be oriented along a length of the hopper barge  108  and disposed atop the split hull of the hopper barge  108 . The sluiceway device  100  may be modular, i.e., installed in multiple segments along the length of the hopper barge  108 , or may be provide as a single, unitary installation that is lowered into the hopper barge  108  by crane during an installation procedure, as desired. Further, the sluiceway device  100  may be fabricated within the barge  108  as a single, unitary, and one-piece sluiceway device  100  and hopper barge  108  assembly according to other embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     The elongate main body  102  of the sluiceway device  100  may also have an upper major surface  110  for receiving the dredging material  109  placed in the hopper barge  108 . In operation, the upper major surface  110  of the sluiceway device  100  is used to selectively hold the dredging material  109  above the split hull until the sluiceway device  100  is operated to remove the dredging material  109 , as will be described further herein. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2-5 and 7 , the elongate main body  102  may define a discharge channel  112 . The discharge channel  112  may be configured for receiving dredging material  109  and water to be pumped from the hopper barge  108 . As with the elongate main body  102  itself, the discharge channel  112  may be oriented along the length of the hopper barge  108  when the elongate main body  102  is disposed atop the split hull of the hopper barge  108 . The discharge channel  112  may have a length equal to a length of the hull of the hopper barge  108 , for example. Other suitable lengths for the elongate main body  102  and the discharge channel  112  may also be selected, as desired. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 6 , the elongate main body  102  of the sluiceway device may have a plurality of openings  104 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 , the openings  104  may be spaced apart and disposed evenly across the upper major surface  110  of the elongate main body  102 . Though a plurality of openings  104  are shown evenly spaced on the upper major surface  110  of the elongate main body  102 , it should be appreciated that one skilled in the art may select any suitable number of openings  104 . Further, any configuration of the openings  104  along the elongate main body  102  is contemplated by this present disclosure. 
     The discharge pump  106 , shown in  FIGS. 1-2 and 6-7 , may be in communication with the discharge channel  112 . The discharge pump  106  may be provided separately and connected to the hopper barge  108 . The discharge pump  106  may also be connected to the elongate main body  102  of the sluiceway device  100  so that the entire assembly may be lowered or installed into the hopper barge  108  as a single unit, as desired. The discharge pump  106  may be configured to pump the dredging material  109  from the discharge channel  112  to a disposal area outside of the hopper barge  108 , for example, a beach where it is desired to deposit the dredging material. 
     Advantageously, the elongate main body  102  may be removably secured to the bottom of the split hull of the hopper barge  108  with suitable mechanical fasteners  128 , such as rails, brackets, and bolts, as non-limiting examples. This allows the sluiceway device  100  to be removed when not in use. One of ordinary skill in the art may select other suitable mechanical fasteners for securing the elongate main body  102  of the sluiceway device  100  within the hopper barge  108 , as desired. 
     In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the openings  104  may be sealed with doors  114  as shown in  FIGS. 2-5 . However, other openings  104  for the sluiceway device  100  are contemplated and may also be selected by a skilled artisan within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Each of the doors  114 , in operation, may be configured to be selectively opened. For example, the openings  104  may be operated in sequence from one end of the elongate main body  102  to another end of the elongate main body  102 . This sequential operation of the openings  104  permits the dredging material  109  to fall into the discharge channel  112  in an orderly and predetermined manner further detailed hereinbelow. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , each of the doors  114  may be attached to the elongate main body  102  with a hinge  115 . In a particular embodiment, the hinged doors  114  may be configured to be opened downwardly. The hinged doors  114  may be configured to be opened by at least one actuator  116 , such as a hydraulic cylinder. However, other actuators  116  for the sluiceway device  100  including electric and pneumatic actuators  116  are contemplated and may also be selected by a skilled artisan within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     In particular, each of the hinged doors  114  may be connected to an actuating arm  117  of the at least one actuator  116 . The actuating arm  117  may be pivotally attached to the hinged door  114  so that, when the actuating arm  117  is moved downwardly by the actuator  116 , the hinged door  114  is likewise opened. This allows the dredging material above the hinged door  114  to fall into the discharge channel  112 , for subsequent transport by the discharge pump  106  away from the hopper barge  108 , as described further hereinbelow. 
     Various configurations of the discharge channel  112  are envisioned, and all are deemed to be within the scope of the present disclosure. As one non-limiting example, as shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , the elongate main body  102  may have a trapezoidal shape in cross-section. In particular, the trapezoidal shape may be configured to conform to an inner surface of the split hull of the hopper barge  108 . 
     In this example, and as depicted in  FIG. 3 , the elongate main body  102  may have a pair of angled walls  120 , which are each configured to abut major surfaces of the hull of the hopper barge  108  on opposing sides of the split. The angled walls  120  may be connected by a top plate  122  that defines the upper major surface  110  of the elongate main body  102 . The openings  104  of the elongate main body  102  are formed through the top plate  122 . The upper major surface  110  may be configured to receive and support the dredging material  109  when disposed in the hopper barge  108 . 
     The angled walls  120  may also be connected by a bottom plate  124 . The angled walls  120 , the top plate  122 , and the bottom plate  124  together provide the trapezoidal shape in cross-section. The hinged doors  114  that selectively seal the openings  104  are disposed on the top plate  122  of the elongate main body  102  in this particular embodiment. 
     In another example, shown in  FIG. 4 , the elongate main body  102  may be defined by only the top plate  122 , which in turn defines the upper major surface  110 . In this embodiment, the top plate  122  is configured to rest atop an inner surface of the split hull of the hopper barge  108  without the angled walls  120 . The elongate main body  102  may also include a bottom cap  126  in this case, which is spaced apart from and not connected with the top plate  122 . The bottom cap  126  may be configured to be placed directly above the split hull of the hopper barge and is disposed adjacent the split. 
     In this example, the upper major surface  110  may be configured to receive and support the dredging material  109  when disposed in the hopper barge  108 . The top plate  122  may be secured to the interior surface of the hull on opposing sides with connecting rails, brackets, and bolts  128 , as non-limiting examples. One of ordinary skill in the art may select other suitable mechanical fasteners  128  for securing the top plate  122  to the hull of the hopper barge  108 , as desired. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 4 , it should be appreciated that the hinged doors  114  seal the openings  104  until the hinged doors  114  are selectively opened, as described hereinabove. The bottom cap  126  militates against the dredging material coming into direct contact with the split in the hull where the hinged door  114  is opened. Advantageously, the sluiceway device  100  shown in  FIG. 4  may be particularly useful with a retrofitting of the split hull of the hopper barge  108  by militating against the dredging materials  109  contacting the split of the hull of the barge  108 . Furthermore, the bottom cap  126  may hold the two sides of the hull of the hopper barge  108  together, thus militating against the dredging material  109  from falling out of the hopper barge  108  in an unintended manner. 
     In a further example, shown in  FIG. 5 , the elongate main body  102  may be defined by a pipe  130 . The pipe  130  is oriented along the length of the hopper barge  108  and disposed atop the split in the hull. The pipe  130  may have a substantially circular shape in cross-section, as a non-limiting example. Other suitable cross-sectional shapes for the pipe  130  may also be employed, as desired. 
     In this example, a top portion of the pipe  130  defines the upper major surface  110  of the sluiceway device  100 . The top portion  130  may therefore be configured to receive and support the dredging material  109  when disposed in the hopper barge  108 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 5 , the pipe  130  may be secured to the inner surface of the hull on opposing sides with the mechanical fasteners  128 . The mechanical fasteners  128  in this embodiment may include a fastening strap  132 , as a non-limiting example. The fastening strap  132  may have a first end that is affixed to a first side wall of the split hull of the hopper barge  108 , and a second end that is be affixed to a second side wall of the split hull of the hopper barge  108 . 
     Advantageously, this embodiment may utilize less space inside the hull of the hopper barge  108  in comparison to other embodiments contemplated by this disclosure. As such, this embodiment may then hold more dredging material  109  than a substantially similar sized hopper barge  108  fitted with a different embodiment of the sluiceway device  100 . 
     In  FIGS. 6-9 , the sluiceway device  100 ′ according to another embodiment of the disclosure is shown. Like or related structure to that shown in  FIGS. 1-5  is identified in  FIGS. 6-9  with a same reference number and a prime (′) symbol for purpose of clarity. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6-9 , the discharge channel  112 ′ may be provided with a plurality of semi-circular hatch openings  104 ′. The hatch openings  104 ′ may be selectively sealed with a rotating door  114 ′ over at least one semi-circular opening  104 ′, instead of using the hinged doors  114 ′ to selectively seal the openings  104 ′. The revolving doors  114 ′ may permit for a selective opening by the at least one hatch actuator  116 ′ or by other means to permit the dredging material to fall into the discharge channel  112 ′, within the scope of the disclosure. 
     In a particular example, as shown in  FIGS. 7-10 , the actuator  116 ′ may be in the form of a motor  134 ′. The motor  134 ′ is configured for rotating a gear  136 ′ that is connected by a chain  138 ′ to the revolving door  114 ′. Upon rotation of the motor  134 ′, the revolving door  114 ′ is caused to rotate to either an opened position or a closed position. One of ordinary skill in the art may also select other means for opening and closing the revolving doors  114 ′, as desired. 
     In a most particular example, the hatch actuator  116 ′ includes a hydraulic motor  134 ′ with the gear  136 ′ and the chain  138 ′ located on top of the modular section. The chain  138 ′ may be attached to gear pins  140 ′ at the top of the hatch actuator  116 ′ and will open and/or close the semi-circular opening  104 ′ by rotating the revolving door  114 ′. These components may be completely encased by a metal casing  142 ′ for protection. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the revolving doors  114 ′ may be semicircular plates. Each of the plates forming the revolving door  114 ′ may have a curved edge and a straight edge. The revolving doors  114 ′ are connected to the hatch actuator  116 ′ via the gear pins  140 ′. The gear pins  140 ′ are connected with the gears  136 ′ and disposed through the upper major surface  110 ′. The gear pins  140 ′ also are connected to the revolving doors  114 ′ adjacent to the center of the mostly straight edge of the semi-circular shape as shown in  FIG. 10 . In operation, as the gear pins  140 ′ are rotated by the hatch actuator  116 ′ the revolving doors  114 ′ are likewise caused to rotate about their respective gear pins  140 ′. 
     As further depicted in  FIG. 10 , the revolving doors  114 ′ may be disposed below the openings  104 ′ and the upper major surface  110 ′. On a lower face disposed opposite the upper major surface  110 ′ and adjacent to either side of one opening  104 ′, there may be an annular lip  144 ′. The lip  144 ′ defines a guiding channel  146 ′. The lip  144 ′ extends from the lower face to an area disposed just below the curved edge of the revolving door  114 ′. It should be appreciated that the lip  144 ′ entirely envelopes the curved edges of the respective revolving doors  114 ′ such that whether the revolving door  114 ′ is in the open position or the closed position, the revolving door  114 ′ remains in the guiding channel  146 ′ as defined by the lips  144 ′. 
     Advantageously, the lip  144 ′ provides support to the revolving doors  114 ′. In particular, the lip  144 ′ may militate against an undesirable bending, sagging, or breaking of the revolving doors  114 ′ due to a weight of the dredging material  109 ′ where the sluiceway device  100 ′ is in operation. Other suitable means including bracing for further supporting the revolving doors  114 ′ may also be employed. 
     The present disclosure further includes the method  200  for operating the sluice way device  100 ,  100 ′ for the barge  108 ,  108 ′, as shown in  FIGS. 11-14 , and also detailed hereinbelow. 
     The method  200  may have a first step  202  of providing the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′. The hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′ may be a split hull type. However, one skilled in the art may select the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′ with different hull types, including non-split designs, as desired. 
     A second step  204  in the method  200  may include providing the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ with the at least one opening  104 ,  104 ′. As described hereinabove, the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ includes the elongate main body  102 ,  102 ′ that defines the discharge channel  112 ,  112 ′. The elongate main body  112 ,  112 ′ has the upper major surface  110 ,  110 ′. There are the plurality of openings  104 ,  104 ′ spaced apart and disposed along the length of the upper major surface  110 ,  110 ′ These openings  104 ,  104 ′ may be selectively sealed with the hinged doors  114 , as shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , or the revolving doors  114 ′, as shown in  FIGS. 7-10 . 
     In one embodiment, the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ may be provided separately from the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′. The sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ may then be installed into the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′. The sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ may be installed in a single piece. Where the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ is a single piece, the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ may be lowered into the hull of the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′ using a crane, as a non-limiting example. The sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ may then be secured to the hull of the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′ using fasteners. 
     In other embodiments, the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ may also be installed in multiple, individual segments along the hull of the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′. The individual segments are then connected, for example, by welding or mechanical fasteners, in order to form the completed sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′. 
     In yet another embodiment, the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ may be preinstalled with the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′. In this embodiment, the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ is fabricated within the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′ during manufacture of the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′. In this manner, the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ may be provided as an integral part of the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′ assembly. 
     The hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′ may also have the discharge pump  106 ,  106 ′. The discharge pump  106 ,  106 ′ may be previously installed on the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′ in cases where a hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′ is being retrofitted with the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′. Alternatively, the discharge pump  106 ,  106 ′ may be installed as a separate component together with the installation of the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′, as either a single piece or in the multiple individual segments as described hereinabove. For example, the discharge pump  106 ,  106 ′ may be attached to the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′, or the discharge pump may be installed concurrently into the hull of the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′ while the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ is installed. 
     The method  200  then includes a third step  206  of filling the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′ with dredging material  109 ,  109 ′. In this step  206 , the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ has been installed. The at least one opening  104 ,  104 ′ remains sealed by the door  114 ′,  114 ′ during the filling of the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′. 
     The hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′ may be filled using conventional dredging methods. The dredging material  109 ,  109 ′ is supported by the upper major surface  110 ,  110 ′ of the elongate main body  102 , 102 ′ of the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′. The hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′ may then be transported to the disposal location for the dredging material  109 ,  109 ′. The filled hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′ is depicted in  FIG. 11 . 
     A fourth step  208  of the method  200  then includes unsealing the at least one opening  104 ,  104 ′ to permit the dredging material  109 ,  109 ′ to fall into the discharge channel  112 ,  112 ′. The doors  114 ,  114 ′ of the openings  104 ,  104 ′ may be opened by the at least one actuator  116 ,  116 ′, for example, as described hereinabove with respect to  FIGS. 1-10 . 
     The method  200  may then include a fifth step  210  of pumping water into the discharge channel  112 ,  112 ′. Once the dredging material is in the discharge channel  112 ,  112 ′, additional pumps may be used to direct water into the discharge channel  112 ,  112 ′. The additional pumps may be provided with the hopper barge  108  or the additional pumps may be provided with the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ and installed into the hull of the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′. Advantageously, pumping water into the discharge channel  112 ,  112 ′ while discharge material  109 ,  109 ′ is present may allow the dredging material  109 ,  109 ′ to flow through the discharge channel  112 ,  112 ′ more efficiently than it could without the water being present. 
     A sixth step  212  of the method  206  may include a pumping of the dredging material  109 ,  106 ′ and water from the discharge channel  112 ,  112 ′ away from the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′. After the water and dredging material  109 ,  109 ′ are pumped together in the discharge channel  112 ,  112 ′, the discharge pumps  106 ,  106 ′ may then be used to pump the dredging material  109 ,  109 ′ from the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′. The discharge pumps  106 ,  106 ′ may pump the dredging material  109 ,  109 ′ onto a beach or any other suitable location for disposal of the dredging material. Advantageously, the discharge pumps  106 ,  106 ′ allow hopper barges  108 ,  108 ′ to transport dredging materials  109 ,  109 ′ to sites that were not previously available due to the limitations of split hull hopper barges  108 ,  108 ′. 
     In a particular embodiment, the elongate main body  102 ,  102 ′ of the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ may have at least two openings  104 ,  104 ′. The at least two openings include a first opening  104 ,  104 ′ and a second opening  104 ,  104 ′. In this embodiment, the first opening  104 ,  104 ′ is unsealed first according to the method  200 . Once the dredging material  109 ,  109 ′ at the first opening  104 ,  104 ′ is disposed in the discharge channel  112 ,  112 ′, then the second opening  104 ,  104 ′ is also unsealed in sequence. 
     More specifically, the first door  114 ,  114 ′ is opened, water is added to the discharge channel  112 ,  112 ′ and the discharge material  109 ,  109 ′ is pumped from the boat. The second door  114 ,  114 ′ is then opened, water is added to the discharge channel  112 ,  112 ′ and the dredging materials  109 ,  109 ′ are pumped from the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′. 
     It should be appreciated that this ordered unsealing of the at least two openings  104 ,  104 ′ may be performed with as many openings  104 ,  104 ′ are present in the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′, and in any suitable order, within the scope of the disclosure. 
     In a most particular example, as shown in  FIGS. 10-13 , the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ has a plurality of openings  104 ,  104 ′. The method  200  for employing the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ then includes repeating the steps of the method  200  for each opening present on the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′. 
     In this embodiment, the doors  114 ,  114 ′ would be opened sequentially. The sequential opening of the doors  114 ,  114 ′ may include opening the door  114 ,  114 ′ nearest the end of the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′ furthest from the discharge pumps  106 ,  106 ′. The doors  114 ,  114 ′ may then be opened in order moving towards the discharge pumps  106 ,  106 ′ until all of the doors  114 ,  114 ′ have been opened and substantially all the dredging material has been emptied from the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′. It should be understood that one skilled in the art may open the plurality of doors  114 ,  114 ′ in any other order and according to any suitable timing, as desired. 
     Advantageously, the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ of the present disclosure is especially useful for converting the hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′ into a vessel for pumping contents such as the dredging material  109 ,  109 ′ to a disposal area, such as a beach. The sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ is easily installed in a conventional split-type hopper barge  108 ,  108 ′. Thus, the sluiceway device  100 ,  100 ′ permits retrofitting of hopper barges  108 ,  108 ′ in a manner that is less complicated an inexpensive relative to earlier-known retrofitting methods in the art. 
     While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for purposes of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure, which is further described in the following appended claims.