Two Chinese-built mega dredgers launched, marking milestone in dredging technology

陈小将

A drone photo taken on Aug 26, 2025 shows the "Tongjun" dredger (left) and the "Junguang" dredger in Qidong, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/Xinhua]

TIANJIN -- China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) Tianjin Dredging Co Ltd on Tuesday announced the successful launch of the "Tongjun" dredger, a 35,000 cubic meter capacity, ultra-large, self-propelled grab suction dredger.

Another dredger, the "Junguang," with the same capacity and belonging to the CCCC Guangzhou Dredging Co Ltd was also launched on the same day.

Dredgers are typically classified into two types based on their operating mechanisms: cutter suction dredgers and grab suction dredgers. The simultaneous breakthroughs with the two grab suction dredgers mark China's international leadership in the field of large-scale dredging equipment.

Both dredgers are designed with a length of 198 meters, a beam of 38.5 meters, and a depth of 18 meters. They can dredge up to a maximum depth of 120 meters.