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scraper dredge

engineering
Also known as: dragline

Quick Summary

A scraper dredge, also known as a dragline, is a type of floating excavation device used for underwater work. It handles material using a scoop suspended from a swinging boom. The scoop is pulled forward by a line attached to its front, while a second line at the rear controls its angle to slice into the earth as the dredge moves.1

Dredges, in general, are employed for several purposes: maintaining or increasing water depths in canals, rivers, and harbors; creating new land by excavating fill; constructing dams and dikes; and recovering valuable underwater deposits or marine life. They are categorized as either mechanical or hydraulic, with many specialized designs and combinations of the two. The scraper dredge, specifically, is one type of mechanical dredge, distinct from grab (clamshell) dredges or ladder dredges that use a continuous chain of buckets.1

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