DredgingmethodsandEquipments

Dredgingisanexcavationcarriedoutunderwater,in

shallowseaorfreshwaterareas
Purpose
Tocollectbottomsedimentsanddisposethemat
differentlocations
Tokeepwaterwaysnavigable
Toreplenishsandonsomepublicbeach,wheretoo
muchsandislostbecauseofcoastalerosion
Terminology
Dredgeisadeviceusedforscrapingorsuckingloose
materialfromtheseabed
Dredgerisashiporboatequippedwithadredge

Uses/advantages
Tocreateanewharbour,berthorwaterway
Todeepenexistingfacilitiesforallowingaccessforlarger

ships(increasedraft)
Underwaterfoundationworksforbridgepiers
Maintainnavigablewaterwaysthatbecomesilteddueto
sedimentdeposits
Dredgingsedimentsforelementslikegold
Seabedmining
Aremedyfordeoxygenatedwaterbodies(eutrophied
waterbodies)
Toreclaimareasaffectedbychemicalspills

Environmentalimpacts
Disturbstheaquaticecosystem
Dredgespoilsmaycontaintoxicchemicals.Thismay

affectthedisposalarea
Releaseoftoxicchemicals(includingheavymetals)
frombottomsedimentsintowatercolumns
Shorttermincreaseinturbidityinseawater

OperationofDredging
4stageprocess
Theinsitumaterialmustbefirstloosenedfromitsnatural

state
Itshouldbethenmovedfromitsownpositiontothewater
surface
AbovetwostagesarecalledDREDGINGOPERATION
Nextstageistotransportthedredgedmaterial
Laststageistherelocationphase
TransportationofdredgedmaterialcanbeplacedinaBarge

oraHopper
Itcanalsobesentthroughpipeline

Dredgingoperation
Dredgersareexpensivetopurchaseandhire
Operationcostisveryhighandhencesuccessful

dredgingoperationdependsongoodproductionrate
Effectiveplanningisrequiredtomakethework
practicalandeconomicallyfeasible
Siteconditionsaretobeassessedtochoose
appropriatetypeofDredgeandmethodofDredging
Impfactorthatmakestheplanningdifficultisthat
assessmentandsurveyingaretobecarriedout
underwater(whichisdifficultandnotveryefficient)

Definitions
Dredging
Collectsmaterialsfromseaorriverbed
Itinvolvesvariousstagesofbringingup,fishingupor
clearingawayfrombottomofseaorriver
Maintenancedredging
Dredgingdoneforkeepingtheexistingwatercourse,
harbourbasinsetc
CapitalDredging
Dredgingdoneforcreatingnewharbourbasins,canal
etcordeepeningofexistingwaterwaysandapproach
channels

 Mineraldredging
Dredgingdoneforextractingmineralsofeconomic
valuefromunderwaterdeposits
Mineraldredgingiscarriedouttominegold,tin,
mineralsand(ilmenite,rutile,zicron)andphosphates
Remedialdredging
Dredgingcarriedoutforremovingpollutedsediments
fromharbourbasins,riversetc
Environmentalremedialdredgingisaspecialtypeof
dredgingthatiscarriedouttoremovepolluted
sedimentsthatarehazardoustopublichealth

Dredgingoperation
Problemsassociatedwithhorizontalandvertical

controlestablishmentsfordredgingrequirespecial
equipments,techniquesandskills
Geotechnicalinvestigationsarerequiredtodetermine
thenatureofthematerialtobedredged
Thisisveryvital

Becausethisshalldecidethetype,methodand

selectionofproperdredger

TypesofDredger
Mechanicaldredgers
Hydraulicsdredgers
Thedifferencesbetweenthesetwotypesarethewaythat
thesoilisexcavated;eithermechanicalorhydraulic.
Othertypes
Thesearemeantforspecificdredgingordisposalcases

MechanicalDredgers
Essentiallyconsists

ofagraborabucket
Usedtocollectthe

loosened,insitu
material

Thecollected

materialisthen
raisedfromthesea
bed(orriverbed,as
thecasemaybe)
andtransported

VariousTypes
BucketDredgers
GrabDredgers
BackhoeDredgers
Backhoeand
dipperDredgers
SuctionDredgers

MechanicalDredger
BucketDredger
Itconsistsofaconveyorbelt

fittedwithseriesofbuckets
thatarecapableoftiltingto
collectthedredgedmaterial
Italsohasacutteratitstip
whichloosensthematerial
Thecutterexcavatesthe
materialandloadsintothe
bucket
Bucketscarryitonrotation
tothehopper

 Inalternativemodels,

bucketsarealsoequipped
withcutters
Bucketsopenattheirbottom
tocut/collectthedredge
material
Rateofdredginginsuch
modelsarecomparatively
lesser
Butvolumeofdredgingis
higherinsuchmodels
Itisnecessarythatthe
materialtobedredgedbe
loosenedfirst

 Bucketladdertypeisone

oftheoldesttypeof
dredgers
Itconsistsofrectangular
pontoonswithacentral
wellinwhichaladderis
suspended
Theladdersupports
endlesschainofbuckets
Eachbucketisequipped
withcuttingedge
Thebucketshaveoneend
flatsidedknownas
tumblers
Bucketsarerotatedabout
thisflatbottom

Mechanicaldredgersoperations
Whenthebucketreachesthebottomoftheladderor

winch,itscoopsupthematerial
Thisiscarriedinthebuckettothetopoftheladder
Atthehighestpointofthechain,bucketoverturnsand
contentsaredischarged
Thematerialisdroppedinsideadropchutewhichis
connectedtoabargethatiscollectingthedredgedspoil
Eachbucket,afterdischargingreturnemptytorefillagain
Bucketdredgerisgradedbythebucketcapacityrange
from100to1000litres)

 Smallquantityofwaterisaddedtothedredged

materialduringdredging,sothatproductionratecan
beincreased
Bucketladderdredgerisheldinpositionbymooring
systemoranchors
Maximumweeklyoutputofbucketdredgeris10000to
100000m3
Maximumdredgingdepthisupto20m

 Prosofbucketdredgers
Smalloperatingcrew
Canevendredgerockwhenbrokentopiecesby

blasting
Highlyversatilemachine

Cons
Slowmoving
Relativelylowproductionrate
Spoilingsitemustbedirectlyalongsideofthedredge
Otherwiserequiresbargesforspoildeposit

GrabDredgers
Equipmenthousedonalarge

barge
Thebargeismooredoranchored
tothesiteorcanbemadetorest
onspudholes
Dredgetoolisgrabconsistingof
twohalfshelves,operatedby
hydraulicprinciple
Dredgedmaterialisloadedin
barges
Typesofgrabs
Opengrab
Closedgrab
Watertightgrabs

GrabDredgers
Mainlyusedin
difficultaccessibleplacesinharbours
Smallquantitieswithstronglyvarieddepth
Alongquaywallswherethesoilisspoiltbywiresand
debris
Borrowingsandandgravelindeeppits
GrabdredgersarealsocalledClamShells
Theyarenormallyselfpropelledwhichhousesalsoa

revolvingcrane

 Sizeofthesedredgersareexpressedintermsofhopper

capacity
Capacityvariesfrom100to2500cubicmeter
Rateofproductiondependsoncrane,grabsizeandwater
depth
Theyarepositionrestrainedbyanchorsduringoperation
Itperformsbetterinconsolidatedsilt,clayandloosesand
Duetotheircompactness,theyareeffectivetooperate
closertoQuaywallsandcornersofdocks

Typesofgrabs

BackhoeDredger
Generallymountedon

excavatorunits
Whileinoperation,theyrest
onspuds
Materialisexcavatedusinga
bucket
Excavatedmaterialisloaded
inBargesorplacedonshore
Oldertypeofthisdredgers
useddipperorafaceshovel
forexcavation
Bucketcapacityvarybetween
0.5to13cubicmeter

Duetosmall
radiusofthe
boomandarm,
cutwidthis
limitedto10to
20m

DipperDredger
Itisbasicallyabargemountedpowershovel
Itisequippedwithapowerdrivenladderstructureand

operatedfromabargetypehull
Abucketattachedtotheladderisforciblytrustintothe
materialtoberemoved
Requiredtoincreasethediggingpower
Dipperdredgershavebucketcapacityof58cubicmeter
andworkingdepthof15m
Notselfpropelledbutcanmoveitselfduringthedredging
processbymanipulationofthespudsandthedipperarm

 Pros:
Canremovematerialsconsistingofclay,hardpacked

sand,stoneorevenblastedrocks
Usedforremovingoldpiers,breakwaters,foundation
pilesetc.
Requireslessroomtomaneuverintheworkareathan
mostothertypesofdredges
Powerisapplieddirectlytothecuttingedgeofthe
buckethencepossibletoremoveevenhardmaterials
Limitstheexcesswaterinthebargesastheyload

 Cons:
Itisdifficulttoretainsoft,semisuspendedfine

grainedmaterialsinthebucketsofdipperdredges
Productionisrelativelylowwhencomparedtothe
productionofcutterheadanddustpandredges
Notrecommendedforuseindredgingcontaminated
sediments

HydraulicDredgers
Mainfeatureofhydraulicdredgeristhatloosened

materialfrominsitupositionisremovedbysuction
pipe
Centrifugalpumpsaredeployedfortheprocess
Initialdredgematerialistobeloosened
Waterjetsaresometimeusedtoloosenthematerial

Bestsuitableforfinematerials

 Plainsuctiontype
Cutterheadtype
Sidecasttype
Hoppertype
Dustpantype

Plainsuctiontype
Theyoperatebysuckingthroughalongtube,like

vacuumcleanersbutonabigscale
Workingprinciple
Operatesonprincipleofavacuumcleaner
Astreamofwateriscausedtoflowthroughthe
suctionpipebymeansofacentrifugalpump
Loosematerialsaresuckedupintoandcarriedalong
withthestreamanddischargedfromtheendofthe
conveyancepipe

PlainSuctionType

Plainsuctiontype

Construction
Ithaspowerfulsuctionpipewithwidesuctionmouthpiece

(diameterisabout30cms)
Suctioninletairspeed>200mph
Themouthpiecehasanozzlewhichcanberotatedtoopen
thesuctionmouth
Anybiggerobjectsisdroppedback
Endoftubeistoothed.Itcutstheearthwhenexcavating
Theearthtobesuckedoutmaybeloosenedfirstwitha
powerfulwaterjet
Excavatingwithasuctionexcavatormaycalledvacuum
excavation,orHydroexcavationifawaterjetisused

Prosandcons:Plainsuctiontype
Usedtoexcavateinloosesand
Noneedforbargesorfortowingbarges
Canoperatecontinuouslyandindarknessorfog
Requiresrelativelyasmallcrew
Limitedtoremovalofloose

material
Dischargepipelineisan
obstructiontopassingtraffic

Cutterheadtype
Sameprincipleasplainsuctiontype
Butemploysacutterattheendoftheintakepipeto

loosenthematerialtobedredged
Morepowerfulcuttersareemployedtoexcavate
harderrockswithoutblasting
Cutterconsistsofarotatingbasketframeofspiral
knivessurroundingthesuctionnozzle

Cuttertypehead

Dustpantype
Similartocutterheadtype,exceptthathorizontally

spreadsuctionheadsareusedinsteadofasingle
suctionnozzle
Looseningofmaterialtobedredgedisdonebyhigh
velocitywaterjets
Pros
Mainlyusedforcuttingchannelsinloosematerial
Operatesoffline,runningparalleltodirectionoftravel
ofdredge
Highpercentageofsolidsindredgespoil(discharge)
Highmobility:canbemovedeasilytootherlocation
Cons:Requiresanearbyspoilsite

Hopperdredger
Hopperdredgersaresimplyshipswithstorageareas

connectedtotheintakepipe
Dredgedmaterialispumpedintothestoragearea
Oncethesedimentsettles,excesswaterisreleased
backintotheocean

 Theyareselfpropelledseagoingshipsof50mto170

mlongwithmouldedhullsandlinesofoceanvessels
Theyareequippedwith
Propulsionmachinery(formoving)
Sedimentcontainers(hoppers)
Dredgepumps
Otherspecialequipmentsrequiredtoremovematerial

fromoceanbed

Hopperdredgeshavepropulsionpoweradequatefor

requiredfreerunningspeedanddredgingagainst
strongcurrentsandexcellentmanoeuvrabilityforsafe
workinrough,openseas

 Dredgedmaterialisraisedbydredgepumpsthrough

dragarmsconnectedtodrags
Hopperdredgesareclassifiedaccordingtohopper
capacity
Largeclassdredgeswithhoppercapacity>4500cubic

meter
Mediumclassdredgeswithhoppercapacityfrom1500to
4500cubicmeter
Smallclassdredgeswithhoppercapacity<1500cubic
meter

Hopperdredgestravelatgroundspeedof23mph
Dredgeindepthsfrom3mto25m

SelfpropelledseagoingHopper
Dredge

 Pros
Itistheonlytypeofdredgethatcanworkeffectively,

safelyandeconomicallyinrough,openwater
Itcanmovequicklyandeconomicallytothedredging
projectunderitsownpower
Itsoperationdoesnotinterferewithorobstructtraffic
Itsmethodofoperationproducesusablecgannel
improvementalmostassoonasworkbegins
Thehopperdredgemaybethemosteconomicaltype
ofdredgetousewheredisposalareasarenotavailable
withineconomicpumpingdistancesofthehydraulic
pipelinedredge

 Cons
Itsdeepdraftprecludesuseinshallowwaters,

includingbargechannels
Itcannotdredgecontinuously
Thenormaloperationinvolvesloading,transporting
materialtothedumpsite,unloadingandreturningto
thedredgingsite
Thehopperdredgeexcavateswithlessprecisionthan
othertypesofdredges
Ithasdifficultyindredgingsidebanksofhardpacked
sand
Cannotdredgeeffectivelyaroundpiersandother
structures
Consolidatedclaymaterialcannotbedredged

Possibilitiesofdifftypesofdredgers

Othertypeofdredgers
Specialisedtypesofsmallinsizeandcapacity
Jetlift
Airliftdredger
Augersuctiondredger
Pneumaticdredger
Amphibiousdredger

Jetliftdredgers
Thisusesventurieffectofaconcentratedhighpressure

streamofwatertodrawthedredgedspoilintothe
deliverypipe
Jetdredgershasnomovingparts
Soblockagesbywiresanddockdebrisisminimized

Theycanbemaneuveredonspudcansaloneasthey

aresmallinsize

AirliftDredgers
Similartojetlifttypeexcepttheyusehighpressureair

insteadofwater
Nomovingpartsofthesystem
Hencebloackagetotheflowsystemisminimum
Hardmaterialcannotbedredgedasthisshallcause
damagetheairsuctionsystem

AugersuctionDredgers
Theyoperateonthesameprincipleofcutterdredger
Inthistype,mechanicalcuttingtoolisrotarywhereas

inthecuttersuctiontype,itisstationary
Archimedeanscrewisplacedatrightanglestothe
suctiontype
Thescrewreleasesthematerial,whichisfedtothe
suctionpipe
Theaugersuctionadvancesintothecuttingfaceby
hauling
Itisusedforhighprecisioncuttinganddredging

Pneumatictypedredgers
Thisworksonevacuatorprinciple
Itcontainsachamberwhichisopenedtodrawthe

materialandwaterinside
Thesuckedmaterialispumpedoutwiththeinletina
closedposition
Theprocessissuckingandevacuationandhencethe
dredgingactionisonlyintermittentandslow

Amphibiousdredger
Theycanremainoperationalwhileafloatorelevated

clearofwatersurface
Theyarefittedwithgrabs,shovelsandbuckets

Waterinjectiondredgers
Pressurizedwaterjetisappliedtoloosenthehardmaterial
Thisisaselfpropelleddredger
Itcreatesturbiditycurrentofhigherdensitythanthe

surroundingwater
Thebedmaterialisloosenedandthenmoveswithitsown
current
Bestsuitableformudandfinesand
Largerapplicationsareseeninports
Seriousdemeritisthevoluminousdischargeofturbid
water

Dredgersandauxillaries
Alldredgersareequippedwithseriesofauxilliaries
Theyaresophisticated,electronicallycontrolleddatalogging
systems
Theyarehelpfulin
Positioning
Loadingandrecording
Stationkeeping
Thevisualdisplayusitshowsthecurrentpositionofthetrailer,

draghead,cutterhead,backhoestickandbucket
Depthofcut,currentdredgeddepthandslopesarealso
displayed
Theyhelpinimprovingtheefficiencyandtoavoidoverdredging
Theyhelpinimprovingtheprecisionofdumpingwherestrict
environmentalcontrolexists