Hopper barge

A hopper barge is a dredger spoil carrier with a hold that opens to release dredged material at the disposal site. It receives material pumped from a stationary cutter suction dredger or loaded by a grab or backhoe dredger, carries it to a dumping ground, and discharges through bottom doors or a split hull. Self-propelled hopper barges run unassisted; dumb barges are towed or pushed by a tug. The split-hopper type opens its hull along the keel for fast, clean release. Capacity ranges from a few hundred cubic meters for small works to several thousand cubic meters, and barge cycle time, the load, sail, dump, and return loop, sets production when the dredger itself has no hopper.