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Introduction
1.1 Historical
Dredging is an ancient art but a relatively young science. Traces of man's work involving
primitive dredging techniques have been discovered in many places, dating back to thousands of years BC (Linssen, 1975). In such instances, the vessel was probably little more
than a raft and the excavating means a man with a bucket. The development of this method
of excavation into the spoon and bag dredger and the subsequent proliferation of dredging
machines has been well described (Gower, 1967).
With the development of powerful dredging machinery there was a corresponding
increase in the scope and complexity of engineering projects which could be executed by
dredging. For a considerable time the art of using this equipment was known only to small
groups of men who passed their knowledge and experience on from one generation to the
next. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, which transformed many arts into sciences, the dredging process was subjected to greater scientific analysis.
The development of dredging methods has been influenced by geographical characteristics. Whereas the major developments in mechanical excavating methods in the 19th century
probably occurred in the lowlands of Europe, the development of hydraulic dredging techniques, using the centrifugal pump, was pioneered by the Americans. The latter had
numerous sites suitable for reclamation by pipeline dredgers, whilst the European sites were
more often confined, necessitating transport by barge to open sea. In due course, the slow
mechanical methods were largely replaced by suction dredgers and hydraulic dredging
became commonplace worldwide.
Other notable trends in dredging technology have been the development of rock cutter
suction dredgers in the 1970s to tackle the many rock dredging projects in the Middle East,
and the recent introduction of dredging machines specifically designed to be used within
strict environmental constraints. No doubt this latter trend will continue into the foreseeable
future as the dredging industry continues to adapt to the demands of the market.
Introduction
Dredging is carried out for a variety of reasons and by a number of different types of
dredger. However, the basic reason for dredging is usually to achieve one, or a combination,
of the following:
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to
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to
to
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excavate material from underwater, thereby creating a greater depth in a fiver, lake or sea;
fill a void, either underwater or on land, with material excavated from underwater;
replace material underwater, (i.e. to substitute poor quality material with good quality);
win material for construction;
win minerals;
improve the environment.
Examples of the types of work where these results are achieved are:
Material excavation
For construction:
For navigation:
For maintenance:
Others:
Filling
For construction:
Material replacement
For construction:
to excavate and remove unsuitable material for foundations, or reclamation, and replace with suitable material.
Material winning
For construction:
to obtain aggregate for making concrete; to obtain sand for reclamation fill.
Mineral winning
For mining:
Environmental aspects
Environmental improvement
For contaminants:
For capping:
For habitat:
In this book, with the exception of the mining processes, all these subjects are described in
more detail.
1.3 Definitions
In the text the following definitions are used:
Dredger:
4 Introduction
References
Gower, G.L. 1967. A history of dredging, Dredging Symposium, Institution of Civil
Engineers, London.
Linssen, J.G.Th. 1975. The performance and the future development of dredging equipment,
Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on Dredging Technology, Canterbury,
England.
PIANC 1992. Beneficial uses of dredged material, Report of Working Group 19, Permanent
International Association of Navigation Congresses (PIANC), Brussels.