A vessel and vessel/barge systems for dredging underwater surfaces. The vessel includes a hull with a bottom, bow portion, stern portion, port side, and starboard side. The vessel also includes a deck supported by the hull and a pump system mounted within the hull. A drag arm pivotably couples to the pump system. The vessel additionally includes a void defined by contiguous watertight walls or bulkheads joined to and extending upward from the bottom of the hull. The contiguous watertight walls or bulkheads are (i) vertically extensive of a perimeters of an aperture in the bottom of the hull, (ii) outboard, astern, and forward the aperture, or (iii) some combination thereof. The barge is releasably coupled to the vessel. Moreover, the barge is in fluidic communication with the drag arm.

A dragging apparatus has a carriage body. The carriage body has at least one attachment portion. The attachment portion is configured to connect the carriage body to a drag barge. At least one ripper shank is disposed on the carriage body. The ripper shank extends downwardly from the carriage body. A method for operating a dragging apparatus includes providing a barge and a dragging apparatus, and then lowering the dragging apparatus to a floor or bottom of a body of water to agitate the floor or bottom.

A shovel includes an attachment attached to an upper turning body and a processor configured to calculate a weight of a load carried in the attachment in accordance with a mode selected from a plurality of modes with respect to timing of detection.

A system for dredging a seabed includes a trailing suction hopper dredger. The trailing suction hopper dredger includes a hull, a rail coupled to the hull, and a dredge arm coupled to the rail. The dredge arm includes an upper suction pipe coupled to a lower suction pipe. A pump is coupled to the upper suction pipe and is configured to draw material toward the upper suction pipe from the seabed. A visual marine life deterrent is coupled to the dredge arm and is configured to direct light toward the sea floor where marine life may be located. Another visual marine life deterrent includes a silhouette of a marine life predator. The visual marine life deterrents are configured to be observable by the marine life and cause marine life to move away from the dredge arm.

A system for dredging a seabed includes a trailing suction hopper dredger. The trailing suction hopper dredger includes a hull, a rail coupled to the hull, and a dredge arm coupled to the rail. The dredge arm includes an upper suction pipe coupled to a lower suction pipe. A pump is coupled to the upper suction pipe and is configured to draw material toward the upper suction pipe from the seabed. A visual marine life deterrent is coupled to the dredge arm and is configured to direct light toward the sea floor where marine life may be located. Another visual marine life deterrent includes a silhouette of a marine life predator. The visual marine life deterrents are configured to be observable by the marine life and cause marine life to move away from the dredge arm.

An underwater trenching apparatus and pumping apparatus includes: first and second pumps and a trench-cutting jetting tool with first and second sections, the first pump having an inlet for fluid connection with a source of water and an outlet fluidly connected to the first section of the jetting tool, the second pump having an inlet for fluid connection with a source of water and an outlet fluidly connected to the second section of the jetting tool, wherein the outlet of the first pump is fluidly connected to the inlet of the second pump by valve means that is operable to divert at least a portion of an outlet flow of the first pump to the inlet of the second pump.

An underwater trenching apparatus and pumping apparatus includes: first and second pumps and a trench-cutting jetting tool with first and second sections, the first pump having an inlet for fluid connection with a source of water and an outlet fluidly connected to the first section of the jetting tool, the second pump having an inlet for fluid connection with a source of water and an outlet fluidly connected to the second section of the jetting tool, wherein the outlet of the first pump is fluidly connected to the inlet of the second pump by valve means that is operable to divert at least a portion of an outlet flow of the first pump to the inlet of the second pump.

An elbow fitting for an excavating apparatus can include a curved cylindrical pipe that can include a first metal material. In an example, the fitting can be configured for coupling to a hose. The pipe can include an interior surface and an exterior surface. Optionally, a perimeter of the pipe does not exceed a diameter of a first end of the pipe. The fitting can include a cladding layer (e.g., a second metal material) that can be coupled to the first metal material within the interior surface of the pipe. The cladding layer can include an abrasion-resistant material. The cladding layer can be coupled to the pipe such as with a welding operation. The cladding layer can include one or more ridges. The cladding layer can corregate the interior surface of the fitting and exterior surfaces of the fitting which can come into contact with abrasive material.

An elbow fitting for an excavating apparatus can include a curved cylindrical pipe that can include a first metal material. In an example, the fitting can be configured for coupling to a hose. The pipe can include an interior surface and an exterior surface. Optionally, a perimeter of the pipe does not exceed a diameter of a first end of the pipe. The fitting can include a cladding layer (e.g., a second metal material) that can be coupled to the first metal material within the interior surface of the pipe. The cladding layer can include an abrasion-resistant material. The cladding layer can be coupled to the pipe such as with a welding operation. The cladding layer can include one or more ridges. The cladding layer can corregate the interior surface of the fitting and exterior surfaces of the fitting which can come into contact with abrasive material.

A boom hose apparatus for a material collection vehicle includes a telescoping boom assembly and a hose assembly supported by the boom assembly. The boom assembly includes a plurality of telescoping conduits. A flexible hose is received through the telescoping conduits and can slidably extend from, or retract into, the conduits independently from the telescoping of the conduits.