The world’s largest all-electric, modular, and environmentally friendly cutter suction dredger, the “Junlan”, was officially put into operation on April 22 for a pilot dredging project at Guanting Reservoir in Beijing.
The vessel has been independently designed and developed by CCCC Tianjin Dredging Co., Ltd.(TDC), a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Corporation Limited.
The world’s largest all-electric, modular, and environmentally friendly cutter suction dredger, the “Junlan”, was officially put into operation on April 22. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Preliminary surveys had revealed severe sediment accumulation in Guanting Reservoir, resulting in a decline in its flood control, water supply, and ecological conservation functions. Dredging is essential to restore its capacity and functionality.
Equipped with a variable frequency electric-driven cutter excavation system and a high-efficiency mud pump delivery system, the vessel boasts a cutter drive power of 600 kilowatts and a maximum dredging depth of 25 meters.
According to the China Dredging Association (CHIDA), it is the largest all-electric, modular cutter suction dredger currently in operation worldwide.
Yang Zhengjun, director of the dredging technology and equipment research and development center of the TDC, highlighted that the vessel features multiple “breakthrough technologies.”
“Junlan is fitted with the industry’s most powerful electric-driven excavation and transport system for modular dredgers,” Yang explained. “It acts like an ‘sharp tool’ capable of excavating medium to high-strength soils with with an efficiency three times of previous dredger models. It is capable of dredging 2,000 cubic meters of silt per hour — equivalent to emptying a standard swimming pool.”
One major challenge in dredging is slurry transport. The “Junlan” tackles this with a new generation of domestically developed and internationally refined mud pumps. With an innovative tandem configuration of underwater and onboard pumps, the vessel can transport dredged material up to five kilometers away in a single continuous flow.
The vessel is also features an intelligent control system that automatically optimizes operational parameters based on soil type, enabling remote control and monitoring. It can run entirely on onshore power, achieving zero carbon emissions during operation. Additionally, its cutter head is designed for precision dredging of contaminated sediments without disturbing surrounding water quality.
“The commissioning of the vessel signifies that China’s design and manufacturing capabilities for high-performance, environmentally friendly cutter suction vessels have reached an internationally advanced level.” said Gao Wei, secretary-general of the CHIDA.
According to the dredging plan for the reservoir, 11.54 million cubic meters of sediment from the bottom are expected to be removed. The deployment of the “Junlan” is expected to significantly accelerate progress of the ecological restoration project and improve the reservoir’s water quality and overall functionality.
(Executive editor: Yuan Ting)
