The proliferation of Sargassum seaweed causes not only a visual nuisance but also an odor problem, posing a serious challenge for many municipalities on the island that are responsible for cleaning up the affected areas. We spoke with Jacques Giacometti, manager of the Société de Curage et de Travaux Publiques, who has been seeking solutions to address this issue.
How did you come up with this solution?
We’ve often been asked to clean up areas affected by Sargassum—usually beaches—and there have been situations where we needed tools other than the conventional ones we have. Since the seaweed is found everywhere, we made several trips to France, Norway, and New Orleans in the United States, where we saw heavy machinery that wasn’t suitable for the job. We finally found the right machine in Sweden.
Which machine did you choose?
It’s a Truxor-brand tool carrier; we imported it two years ago and are very satisfied with it. It’s a versatile amphibious machine equipped with a wide range of attachments. It allows us to work in areas that are usually inaccessible to conventional machines. It’s the ideal solution for working in all sensitive areas—we can go on water, on land, or even in muddy areas. It won’t get stuck. The machine’s low ground pressure and buoyancy allow it to move easily from land to water.
It is used to haul in the sargassum for another machine. The machine can collect about 20 cubic meters per hour.
What are the unique features of this machine?
It’s important to note that this machine is part of a workshop; it works alongside other equipment and serves as a complementary tool. We also use it for river dredging; we use it extensively on the Rivière-Salée River and at the airport on sites where we can’t use a conventional hydraulic excavator because the ground is too muddy.
We’re often asked to rent it out. We remove sargassum, and we decide which machines to use based on the specific situation and the terrain. There are bodies of water where we don’t need this machine and where a conventional dredging excavator is sufficient to remove the sargassum. In fact, we only use it for inaccessible areas that a dredging excavator or a road-going machine can’t reach.
We work for the municipalities of Le Vauclin, Le Marigot, and Le Robert, as well as for private clients in Le François.
Is this an environmentally friendly machine?
It’s a very lightweight machine, so it doesn’t damage the ground; heavier machines tend to cause some damage, and the authorities ban them. There are a number of criteria that must be met. It’s flexible and doesn’t harm the environment.
We are able to collect fresh sargassum that hasn’t washed ashore and is therefore in perfect condition. When it’s rotten, it’s harder to remove; we have an excavator arm that we can attach, which allows us to remove the sargassum.
There is an operator who operates the machine; he is trained to do so and wears a protective mask. Knowledge of hydraulic excavator operation is required.
Interview by Kaylan Fagour
