Cutter Suction Dredge Productivities in Semi-Protected Harbors

Dredging in semi-protected harbor areas is difficult for large cutter suction dredges, which cannot work under the action of waves. However, only this type of dredge can cut hard bottom materials. A case study was carried out in which net times of operation and productivities were defined for a large cutter suction dredge working in a semi-protected area, as a function of the monthly nearshore wave climate inside the harbor. A numerical model was utilized to predict wave conditions in the working area and dredge behavior under these waves was estimated. Possible scenarios of productivity for dredging hard bottom materials were obtained, and the best working season of the year was defined for different lengths of breakwater construction and levels of protection at the specific harbor site.