Deep and Shallow Water Marine Applications-Typical

Applications of Modern Dredging Equipments

1.E.Rakesh Reddy, Research Student, Dept of Civil Engg, MREC.
2.Dr.P.Ram Reddy, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, MRCET.
3.B.Haritha Reddy, Research Student, Dept of Civil Engg, MREC.
4.K.Jayanth, Student Mechanical Engg, BVRIT.

1.0 Abstract: This paper describes about the dredging process, their types and instruments used for dredging
operations. Different types of dredging equipments that can be applicable in shallow as well as deep water
environments are described here in detail. The types of dredgers, their drudging mechanisms and capacities are
studied. Then it focuses on dredging activities in Indian context.

2.0 Introduction: From the beginning of humans live on earth, they have been attracted by water rich
regions. People prefer to live near the water bodies because they find the most fertile land, good drinking water
and attractive climate. Last but not the least, oceans, seas and water ways offer excellent opportunities for
transport and communication. Waterborne transport offers the most economical, energy efficient and Ecofriendly transportation of cargo. Larger ships resulted in the need to enlarge many canals and rivers, in order to
provide adequate access to ports and harbours.
Dredging plays an important role in both the construction and maintenance of the infrastructure
facilities upon which our economic conditions depend. It gives sands and gravels for the filling of low-lying
areas and for the construction of new land areas. Dredged aggregate is being used in concrete and as fill for
reclamation projects.

3.0 Dredging: Dredging is an excavation work carried out underwater, with the purpose of gathering up
bottom sediments and disposing of them at a different location. This technique is used to keep waterways fit for
navigation. It is also used as a way to replenish sand and also for land reclamation.
3.1 Classification of Dredging:
1.

2.

Capital Dredging: The dredging which is applied to the construction of new harbours, basins, trenches
for foundation, entrance channels and pipelines, for deepening the harbour is classified as capital
dredging.
Maintenance Dredging: dredging to deepen or maintain navigable waterways or channels which are
threatened to become silted with the passage of time, due to sedimented sand and mud, possibly
making them too shallow for navigation.

3.2 Purpose of Dredging Activity:

Dredging operations can be employed for any one of the following purposes:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

To replace unsuitable foundation soils with suitable materials.

Construction of dams, seawalls, artificial islands etc.
Mining of aggregates, sand, gravel and minerals from sea beds.
Creation/Maintaining of artificial depths for ports and harbours.
To provide fill materials for protection and replenishment of beaches.

3.3 The Dredging Process:

Capital dredging projects can be both extensive and expensive. Maintenance dredging is often a regular, perhaps
annual ongoing, long-term activity. In either case, dredging process consists of the following three elements:
1.

2.

3.

Excavation: this process involves the dislodgement and removal of sediments (soils) and/or rocks from
the bed of the water body. A special machine - the dredger is used to excavate the material either
mechanically, hydraulically or by combined action.
Transport of excavated material: transporting materials from the dredging area to the site of
utilisation, disposal or intermediate treatment, is generally achieved by one of the following methods:
(a) in self-contained hoppers of the dredgers; (b) in barges; (c) pumping through pipelines; and
(d)using natural forces such as waves and currents.
Other, rarely used transport methods are truck and conveyor belt transport. The method of
transport is generally linked to the type of dredger being used.
Utilisation or disposal of dredged material: in construction projects, dredging is driven by the
demand for dredged material. In navigation and remediation dredging, the project is driven by the
objective of removing the material from its original place. Thus, the question of what to do with the
removed material? arises. As a result of growing environmental pressure, finding an answer to this
question has become increasingly difficult, especially when the material is contaminated.

4.0 Types of Dredgers:

The dredgers are mainly classified as follows based on the dredging mechanism adopted. The equipment can be
grouped into the following main categories:
1.
2.
3.
4.

mechanical dredgers;
hydraulic dredgers;
special, low-impact dredgers; and
other types of dredgers.
4.1 Mechanical Dredgers: Three main sub-groups of mechanical dredger can be identified:
bucket-ladder dredgers;
backhoes; and
grab dredgers.
These dredgers are well suited to removing hard-packed material or debris and to working in
confined areas.
Mechanical means are used for excavation dislodging the material and then raising it to the water
surface in a way similar to dry land excavation methods. Mechanically dredged sediments are
generally transported by barges. Cohesive sediments dredged and transported this way usually
remain intact, with large pieces retaining their in-situ density and structure through the whole
dredging and placement process.

Fig 1

Bach-hoe Dredger

Fig 2 Bucket-ladder dredger

Fig 3 Grab Dredger

4.2 Hydraulic Dredger: The hydraulic dredgers employ suction techniques in which the soil is drawn
up by a centrifugal pump. These are used where sand or mud is to be removed. It consists of a
flexible pipe connected at one end to a powerful centrifugal pump. At the other, open end there is
usually a device designed to break up the material to be dredged. The open end of the pipe is
lowered to the bottom, where the material to be dredged is mixed with water, pumped up, and then
discharged into hopper barges. There the heavy material settles, and the surplus water is allowed to
overflow. The various types of hydraulic dredgers are:
a. Plain Suction Dredger:
The characteristic of a plain suction dredger is that it is a stationary dredger, consisting of a
pontoon anchored by one or more wires and with at least one sand pump, that is connected to a
suction pipe. The discharge of the dredged material can take place via a pipeline or via a
Barge-loading installation. The suction tube is positioned in a well in the bows of the pontoon
to which it is hinged. The other end of the suction pipe is suspended from a gantry or A frame
by the ladder hoist. The ladder hoist is connected to the ladder winch in order to
suspend the suction pipe at the desired depth. Excavation of material to dredge is by the
erosion of a jet stream and/or the suction flow of the dredge pump and the breaching process.

During sand dredging the dredger is moved slowly forwards by a set of winches. To increase the
amount of sand flowing towards the suction mouth, a water jet is often directed onto the
breach/bank. In this case the jet-pipe is often mounted above the suction pipe.

b.

Fig 4 Plain Suction Dredger

Trailer Suction Dredger:
The characteristics of the trailing suction hopper dredger are that it is a self-propelled sea or
inland waterway vessel, equipped with a hold (hopper) and a dredge installation to load and
unload itself.
In a standard design the trailing suction hopper dredger is equipped with:
One or more suction pipes with suction mouths, called dragheads that are dragged over the
seabed while dredging.
One or more dredge pumps to suck up the loosened soil by the dragheads.
A hold (hopper) in which the material sucked up is dumped.
An overflow system to discharge the redundant water.
Closable doors or valves in the hold to unload the cargo.
Suction pipe gantries to hoist the suction pipes on board.
An installation, called the swell compensator, to compensate for the vertical movement of
the ship in relation with the sea-bed.

Fig 5 Trailer Suction Dredger

c.

Cutter Suction Dredger: Cutter suction dredgers (CSDs) are classified as hydraulic dredgers
and are the most common vessels in the hydraulic/mechanical category. CSDs have the ability
to dredge nearly all kinds of soils (sand, clay, rock) and are used where the ground is too hard
for trailing suction hopper dredgers.

Fig 6 Cutter Suction Dredger

d.

Wheel Dredger: In the wheel dredger the dredging wheel replaces the conventional cutter
used in the cutter suction dredgers. The plane of rotation is at right angles to that of the cutter,
providing smooth dredging process with high output of solids. The dredging wheel combines
the controllable dredging procedure of a bucket dredger and an efficient hydraulic transport
system of Cutter Suction Dredger. The dredging wheel consists of two rings connected by the
buckets. The bottomless buckets with sloping sides fitted with patented lips have solved the
problem of adhesion of soil.

It can be virtually used in all types of soils including sticky clay. The equipment is very well suited for
alluvial mining.

Fig 7 Wheel Dredger

e.

Pneumatic Dredger: Pneumatic dredgers work on the evacuator principle. A chamber with
inlets for bed material is pumped out with the inlets closed. The inlets are then opened and
water and material drawn in. The mixture is then pumped out and the cycle repeated. The unit
is generally suspended from a crane on land or from a small pontoon or barge. The dredging
action is intermittent and suitable only for easily flowing material.

Fig 8 Pneumatic Dredger

5.0 Dredging in Indian Context

India has a coast line of 7460 km. There are 12 important ports, six on the west coast and six
on the east coast. In addition there are 187 minor ports in India. The capital and maintenance
dredging requirement of these ports involve huge expenditure. For efficient functioning of the
ports, adequate depths are to be maintained. The demand for dredging continues to grow in
India driven by higher focus on port infrastructure development, use of larger vessels,
increased attention to coastal shipping and inland water transportation, changes in technology.
This demand is set to accelerate further in the coming years.
Dredging projects worth over INR 200 billion have already been planned between
2010 and 2020. However, the growing demand has not been complemented by a

commensurate increase in the Indian dredger fleet. There are only a few dredging players in
the country and most of them have their dredgers tied up with ongoing contracts. The
dredging capacity in India needs to be significantly enhanced. There is also a need for
improvement in dredging methods and for the introduction of new technology and equipment.
The skills and knowledge of dredger operators need to be upgraded continuously. The
frequency of depth survey process needs to be standardized across all ports.
The capital dredging carried out during the 11 th plan period (2007-2012) is 278
million cum. The projected requirement of capital dredging during the 12 th plan period (20122017) is 640 million cum. The quantity of maintenance dredging carried out by the major
ports, minor ports and fishing harbours during the ninth five year plan (2007-2012) was 291
million cum and the projected requirement during the tenth five year plan (2012-2017) is 530
million cum. The maintenance dredging quantities vary from year to year.

6.0 Conclusion:
Dredging technology is continuously developing and the demand for dredging is increasing
every year, since the growth of nations largely depends upon the foreign trade and
industrialization. More and more water transport infrastructures have to be developed to
facilitate international trading and this will require huge amount of dredging activity. The
following observations can be made:
1. Dredging is one of the basic processes in developing water transport facilities.
2. Latest technologies are incorporated and sophisticated instruments were developed to
meet the challenges and to increase the efficiencies.
3. Dredging technology will certainly see more advancements and novel technologies in the
coming decades.
4. The conventional mechanical power in lifting the hoe/bucket needs to be operated by
electrical power. Necessarily, the electrical power needs to be generated by the same IC
Engine.
5. High starting torque will be available, if DC drives are used for lifting.
6. The electrical power-system-usage pattern will enable automation.
7. In hostile operating conditions automation enables efficient operation of the whole
system, making the whole project economically viable.

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1.