Toll Free: +1 888-870-3005 410-625-0808 1611 Bush Street, Baltimore, MD 21230, USA sales@dredge.com

Dredging 101

The What, Where, Why, How?

What is dredging?

Dredging is simply the removal of solid material from its underwater state and transporting it somewhere else.

Where is dredging performed?

Dredging is performed in almost all waterways around-the-world, but most commonly in lakes, rivers, beaches, ports, harbors, canals, etc. See below.

Dredge in lake

Dredge in ocean

Why is dredging performed?

See examples below:

  • Navigation
  • Environmental Remediation
  • Land Reclamation
  • Coastal Protection

Dredge in lake

  • Reservoir Management
  • Beach Replenishment
  • Irrigation
  • Mining

Dredge in ocean

How is dredging performed?

Although there are many types of dredges, such as hopper dredges and clamshell dredges, Ellicott’s specialty is the hydraulic cutter suction dredge. A cutter suction dredge uses a cutterhead to break up or excavate sediment while at the same time suctioning up the material and pumping it through a discharge pipeline which is usually about 3,000 ft (1 km) in length.

Learn more about a dredge’s cutterhead.

Learn more about the dredge pump.

Portable Cutterhead Suction Dredges-Ellicott Dredges

Dredge in canal
Dredge in river