From "Shovel" To "Smart Water Jet": 20-Year Technological Revolution of Dredgers

Speaking of cutter suction dredgers, many people may think that they are just "water shovels", but in fact, in the past 20 years, they have changed faster than the replacement of smartphones. Today, let's talk about the technological breakthroughs that have changed the rules of the game in this industry that makes a fortune quietly.

1. Power system: the leap from diesel to hybrid power

The engine of dredgers 20 years ago was louder than thunder, and the fuel consumption was so high that the shipowner was gasping for breath. What about now? Look at the "Tiankun" of China Communications Construction Tianjin Port Engineering Bureau, which uses diesel-electric hybrid power, which not only saves 30% of fuel, but is also as quiet as a deep-sea fish. What's more amazing is that now even fuel cells have begun to be tried out. If this becomes popular, dredgers can become "zero carbon emission" model students.

2. Dredging technology: from "hard chewing" to "laser surgery"

The blade of the old-fashioned suction dredger is like chewing sugarcane when digging a stone, all relying on brute force. Now the auger head of IHC in the Netherlands can intelligently adjust the speed. When encountering hard rock, it automatically slows down to protect the equipment. When encountering soft mud, it speeds up the throughput. It is just like an AI. What is even more amazing is the laser-assisted dredging system. After scanning the seabed terrain, the computer can calculate where to dig and where to leave more accurately than the old captain.

3. Automated driving: from "old helmsman" to "unmanned ship"

In the past, cutter suction dredgers would have to grope without the old captain. Now, look at the "Polar Pioneer" of the Belgian DEME Group. The GPS positioning is accurate to the centimeter level, and the automatic dredging route planning is smarter than the navigation software. The test ship of CCCC Dredging can even operate autonomously at night without lights. This technology was unimaginable 20 years ago.

4. Environmental protection black technology: from "fishing in troubled waters" to "water purification operation"

Do you remember that the seawater could turn into yellow soup when the dredger passed by? Now new ships are equipped with "bubble curtains" and "sediment separators" as standard, which can even protect fish and shrimp during operation. The "ecological dredging" technology developed by the British company Boskalis can also use the excavated mud and sand as resources on site, directly turning waste into treasure.

5. Remote control: from "floating on the water" to "dredging in the office"

The most disruptive is the remote control technology. Now engineers from Van Oord in the Netherlands can control the dredging operations thousands of miles away from their office in Amsterdam. 5G+ satellite communication makes real-time control possible. If it were 20 years ago, who would have believed that dredgers could work in suits and ties?

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