Trailer suction hopper dredgers are specialized vessels equipped with hydraulic suction pumps to remove sediment from the seabed. This process involves pumping a mixture of soil and water through a suction pipe into onboard storage hoppers. However, excessive turbulence within these hoppers can hinder the settling of dredged material, necessitating measures to minimize this turbulence and facilitate quicker settling before overflow occurs.
To enhance dredging efficiency and mitigate cavitation, these dredgers often employ draghead or dragarm pumps, which extend the dredging depth and optimize suction capabilities, as suggested by John B. Herbich (1992). Nonetheless, their application is restricted to relatively low-strength materials and deeper waters, as their design precludes operation in very shallow environments, where grab dredgers are more suitable. Despite this limitation, trailer suction hopper dredgers boast higher dredging capacities than grab dredgers, making them ideal for large-scale projects in deeper waters.
Renowned for their mobility, versatility, and resilience in adverse sea conditions, trailer suction hopper dredgers are indispensable tools in various marine engineering endeavors, including waterway maintenance, land reclamation, and coastal protection.