Dredger (TSHD / CSD / backhoe)
- Category
- dredger
- Size envelope
- 2,000-40,000 m³ hopper
- LOA typical
- 80-230 m
- Cargo
- Sand + clay + rock (dredged material)
- Route archetype
- Global — port + reclamation + offshore
- Crew size
- 20-45
Overview
Dredgers move sea-floor material for navigation channels, port expansion, coastal reclamation, and offshore oil-and-gas installation site prep. TSHD (Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger): self-loading via trailing suction pipe + hopper storage + bottom-dump discharge. CSD (Cutter Suction Dredger): cutter head on ladder + pipeline discharge, typically for compacted material. Backhoe: excavator on pontoon. Owners: Boskalis, Van Oord, DEME, Jan De Nul, Hyundai, CCCC. Officer roles include Master + Chief Dredge Master + Chief Engineer + specialists.