China launches two mega dredgers, marking milestone in dredging tech

China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) Tianjin Dredging Co., Ltd. on Tuesday announced the successful launch of the "Tongjun" dredger, a 35,000 cubic meter capacity, ultra-large, self-propelled grab suction dredger.

Another dredger, the "Junguang," with the same capacity and belonging to the CCCC Guangzhou Dredging Co., Ltd. was also launched on the same day.

Dredgers are typically classified into two types based on their operating mechanisms: cutter suction dredgers and grab suction dredgers. The simultaneous breakthroughs with the two grab suction dredgers mark China's international leadership in the field of large-scale dredging equipment.

Both dredgers are designed with a length of 198 meters, a beam of 38.5 meters, and a depth of 18 meters. They can dredge up to a maximum depth of 120 meters.

As next-generation, high-end, intelligent and environmentally friendly grab suction dredgers, the "Tongjun" and "Junguang" are capable of exceptional performance, including strong soil penetration, deep dredging, long-distance transport, and extended blowing capabilities. They are expected to be widely used in port and waterway dredging, deep-sea sand extraction, land reclamation, deep-sea mining, trench excavation and backfilling, gravel bed construction, and deep-sea pipeline laying.

Both dredgers are designed to operate in waves and winds of up to grade eight. With the self-developed intelligent dredging control systems, one crew member is able to handle all navigation and operational tasks. Under normal working conditions, the dredgers can fill their mud holds completely within 90 minutes.

Once these two dredgers are put into operation, they will further optimize China's dredging fleet, accelerating the professionalization, specialization and internationalization of the nation's dredging capabilities, said a staff member of CCCC Dredging (Group) Co. Ltd.