Alaska Department of Natural Resources received a response from Redfern Resources Ltd. June 26 to the state’s Feb. 12 request for additional information concerning the Canadian junior’s proposal to use air cushion barges to transport ore 45 miles down the Taku River from the Tulsequah Mine in British Columbia to Juneau, Alaska.
In Redfern’s response to the State of Alaska it proposes the use of a combination of low-ground-pressure, tracked and rubber-tired vehicles to replace the previously proposed conceptual Amphitrac vehicle to tow ACBs on the Taku River.
The idea behind the Amphitrac was to come up with one type of tow vehicle that could overcome all of the seasonal conditions expected to be encountered along the transportation route. The company has chosen instead to utilize a combination of three more conventionally used vehicles.
The company will use a two-pod tracked, articulating vehicle to tow the barge and to steer it from the front. Behind the barge two low-ground-pressure rubber-tired vehicles – known as Rolligons and commonly used on Alaska’s North Slope – will push, brake and steer the ACBs. The third vehicle – a Hagglunds BV206 two-pod rubber-tracked vehicle commonly used as a NATO troop carrier – will be used by the route master as a forward-scouting support vehicle. All of the vehicles are water-tight and will float in open-water.
During the aquatic season conventional shallow-draft river tugs will be used on the Taku River. Marine tugs will be used between the Taku Inlet and Juneau.
The 32-page report went into detailed answers concerning the testing and operation of the transportation system.
Delivery of the ACB and tow vehicles to Juneau is expected by the end of September.
