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A hydraulic dredge is a floating device that uses a centrifugal pump to excavate underwater material. It works by creating a vacuum that draws a mixture of solids and water through a suction pipe into the pump. This mixture is then expelled and conveyed to barges or directly to shore through a pipe. Hydraulic dredges are primarily used to maintain or deepen waterways like canals, rivers, and harbors, and can also be used to create new land areas by pumping fill material. They are particularly effective at removing sand and mud.12

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