Trailing suction hopper dredgers play multiple important roles in dredging operations. As a workhorse for waterway maintenance, they effectively handle a wide range of bottom conditions, from soft silt to dense sand, operating at a maximum water depth of 50 meters. Their unique self-propulsion capability enables them to independently complete the entire process of excavation, loading, transporting, and dumping, significantly improving project efficiency. Furthermore, modern trailing suction hopper dredgers equipped with advanced control systems achieve centimeter-level dredging accuracy, ensuring precise dredging operations for waterway maintenance.

The trailing suction hopper dredger lowers its raking head to the seabed via raking arms on either side of the hull. High-pressure water jets on the raking head loosen the bottom, while a centrifugal pump generates a powerful negative pressure that draws the slurry into the vessel's hold through pipes. The entire system is coordinated by a sophisticated control system, with an automatic draft control system precisely adjusting the dredging depth for efficient and orderly dredging operations. Once fully loaded, the vessel self-propels to the dumping area, where material is discharged via bow jetting or bottom unloading.