Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD)

A self-propelled dredger that dredges while sailing by trailing one or two suction pipes with draghead along the seabed, pumping the loosened soil into an onboard hopper. It overflows surplus water to densify the load, then transits to a disposal ground and discharges through bottom doors, a split hull, or a pump-ashore bow connection (rainbowing or shore pipeline). The TSHD suits maintenance dredging of channels and harbors and offshore sand winning for reclamation; the largest exceed 45,000 cubic meters hopper and over 30,000 kW. The acronym is TSHD, not THSD.