China Delivers 'Xinhaijing 1', First Distributed Ultra-Large Dredger with 120m Depth
China officially delivered 'Xinhaijing 1' in Qidong, Jiangsu, marking the country's first distributed ultra-large trailing suction hopper dredger with a hopper capacity of 25,000 cubic meters. The vessel features a maximum dredging depth of 120 meters and integrates an AI-powered smart monitoring system. This delivery enhances China's advanced dredging equipment matrix, significantly improving capabilities in deep-water channel construction, deep-sea resource development, and marine engineering support. The innovative design solves traditional pain points such as limited dredging depth and high pipeline resistance. The vessel measures 180 meters in overall length and features a domestic pioneer distributed inboard mud pump design, placing two pumps in separate bow and stern compartments to optimize load distribution. Additionally, it utilizes a 'digital sentinel' system combining AI vision and LiDAR for 24/7 safety situational awareness with over 95% recognition accuracy.
## BACKGROUND
A trailing suction hopper dredger is a self-propelled engineering ship that uses a drag head to loosen seabed silt while underway, sucking the sediment into its hopper using high-power mud pumps. These vessels are essential for maintaining busy shipping channels, ports, and anchorages by preventing silt accumulation from grounding large ships.