This invention relates to hydraulic engineering construction and can be used for deposit cleanup of river beds and channels. The object of the invention is to expand the arsenal of usable means for deposit cleanup and deepening of river beds, develop a method and create a device that uses the speed of the river current in the most effective way. The technical result of the claimed method is simplification and optimization of one existing method for cleanup of river beds and channels, increasing its functionality. The proposed method implements a movable water flow-restricting device with flow-guiding elements that creates a concentrated stream and directs it to a washout zone, bound by side walls, roof and washout surface.

A method of remediating contaminated sediment area. The sediment has an initial water depth and comprises water and fine-grained solids. The contaminated sediment is contained in place by installing over the contaminated sediment an in-situ cap having a total thickness TCP. The contaminated sediment, and optionally any uncontaminated subsurface, is then consolidated until the total settlement of the contaminated and uncontaminated sediment exceeds the thickness TCP of the in-situ cap. The sediment is consolidated by installing a vertical barrier along the perimeter of the contaminated sediment area, installing a plurality of horizontal line drains into the sediment, connecting the horizontal line drains to a vacuum source, installing an in-situ cap over the contaminated sediment area and over the upper edge of the vertical barrier, and applying vacuum pressure to the horizontal line drains to dewater and consolidate the sediment.

A method of remediating contaminated sediment area. The sediment has an initial water depth and comprises water and fine-grained solids. The contaminated sediment is contained in place by installing over the contaminated sediment an in-situ cap having a total thickness TCP. The contaminated sediment, and optionally any uncontaminated subsurface, is then consolidated until the total settlement of the contaminated and uncontaminated sediment exceeds the thickness TCP of the in-situ cap. The sediment is consolidated by installing a vertical barrier along the perimeter of the contaminated sediment area, installing a plurality of horizontal line drains into the sediment, connecting the horizontal line drains to a vacuum source, installing an in-situ cap over the contaminated sediment area and over the upper edge of the vertical barrier, and applying vacuum pressure to the horizontal line drains to dewater and consolidate the sediment.

A watercraft propulsion system for moving a watercraft along a waterway having a bottom and a surface, wherein the watercraft presents a port side and a starboard side. The watercraft propulsion system comprises a boom assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, with the proximal end being rotatably coupled with the watercraft. The watercraft additionally comprises a wheel mounted to the distal end of the boom. The wheel includes at least one generally radially-extending blade assembly, with the blade assembly comprising a primary blade and a secondary blade. The secondary blade extends at an angle with respect to the primary blade so as to present a fluid channel between the primary blade and the secondary blade.

A method for operating a cutting dredger in open water, in particular to control a ground reaction force during dredging operations, the dredger including; a floating body, an elongate cutter ladder having a cutting head at its lowerable free end for dredging, which cutter ladder is hingeably coupled to the floating body and hingeable between an upwards position and a cutting position wherein the cutting head engages matter to be cut away at the floor of a body of water.

A method for operating a cutting dredger in open water, in particular to control a ground reaction force during dredging operations, the dredger including; a floating body, an elongate cutter ladder having a cutting head at its lowerable free end for dredging, which cutter ladder is hingeably coupled to the floating body and hingeable between an upwards position and a cutting position wherein the cutting head engages matter to be cut away at the floor of a body of water.

Apparatus for removing sludge from an underwater deposit comprises a blade having a cutting edge that points forwards and a blade surface to the rear of the cutting edge that faces the interior of a housing. Nozzles are positioned and oriented to direct jets of water onto the blade surface to fluidize sludge that has been cut by the blade. The jets have a component of motion in the rearward direction relative to the blade surface, whereby the fluidized sludge is effectively contained within the housing and high collection rates can be achieved. The apparatus can be adapted for horizontal use over the surface of a sludge deposit or for movement in any direction through a bulk sludge deposit.

Apparatus for removing sludge from an underwater deposit comprises a blade having a cutting edge that points forwards and a blade surface to the rear of the cutting edge that faces the interior of a housing. Nozzles are positioned and oriented to direct jets of water onto the blade surface to fluidize sludge that has been cut by the blade. The jets have a component of motion in the rearward direction relative to the blade surface, whereby the fluidized sludge is effectively contained within the housing and high collection rates can be achieved. The apparatus can be adapted for horizontal use over the surface of a sludge deposit or for movement in any direction through a bulk sludge deposit.

A suctioning device for suctioning impurities from the bottom of large artificial water bodies is provided. The suctioning device includes a flexible sheet configured to provide a structural frame; a plurality of first brushes depending from the sheet; a plurality of middle brushes; a plurality of lateral brushes; a plurality of suction points; a plurality of wheels configured to provide secondary support when the brushes are worn out; a plurality of collectors configured to gather the suctioned water into external suction lines; a plurality of internal suction lines configured to conduit the suctioned bottom water flow from the plurality of suction points to the plurality of collecting means; and a coupling device connecting the internal suction lines and the collectors, wherein a rate of the bottom water flow entering the suctioning device is the same or higher than a rate of water flow suctioned by an external pumping system.

A suctioning device for suctioning impurities from the bottom of large artificial water bodies is provided. The suctioning device includes a flexible sheet configured to provide a structural frame; a plurality of first brushes depending from the sheet; a plurality of middle brushes; a plurality of lateral brushes; a plurality of suction points; a plurality of wheels configured to provide secondary support when the brushes are worn out; a plurality of collectors configured to gather the suctioned water into external suction lines; a plurality of internal suction lines configured to conduit the suctioned bottom water flow from the plurality of suction points to the plurality of collecting means; and a coupling device connecting the internal suction lines and the collectors, wherein a rate of the bottom water flow entering the suctioning device is the same or higher than a rate of water flow suctioned by an external pumping system.