The cutter suction dredger is a common type of hydraulic dredger. Its basic operating principle involves using an onboard centrifugal slurry pump to generate a vacuum, which draws in and lifts the excavated slurry, subsequently discharging it through the vessel's pipeline system.
A specialized rotating cutterhead is mounted at the intake end of the suction pipe to cut and agitate underwater sediment. Positioning spuds and a spud-hoisting mechanism are installed at the stern to facilitate vessel positioning, lateral swinging, and longitudinal advancement during dredging operations. Dredging, transport, and discharge are integrated into a continuous, self-contained process, resulting in high operational efficiency.