Described are 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.

Described are 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 method of improving surf conditions above a seabed is provided. The seabed is at least partly formed of unrestrained sediment. The method includes moving some of the sediment to form a formation of unrestrained sediment. A grooming device is provided for improving surf conditions above a seabed. The device is movable in a direction of travel along the seabed and includes an outlet and an arrangement. The outlet is for directing, in a direction transverse to the direction of travel, a stream of water to move some of the sediment. The arrangement is for engaging the seabed to resist force resultant from the directing the stream of water.

Device for removing alluvial deposits (24) from the bed (29) of a body of water, whereby the device (1) consists of a bell (2) with an open bottom (3), whereby this device (2) is provided with means to control the water level (30) in the bell (2) and with suction means to suck up alluvial deposits (24), whereby a section of the sidewall (8) of the bell (2) is open at the bottom, whereby the opening (10) can be closed by a partition (12) that can be moved between a raised and a lowered position, and that the device (1) is provided with a drive (13) to be able to drive the partition (12) into the alluvial deposits (24).

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.

Device for removing alluvial deposits (24) from the bed (29) of a body of water, whereby the device (1) consists of a bell (2) with an open bottom (3), whereby this device (2) is provided with means to control the water level (30) in the bell (2) and with suction means to suck up alluvial deposits (24), whereby a section of the sidewall (8) of the bell (2) is open at the bottom, whereby the opening (10) can be closed by a partition (12) that can be moved between a raised and a lowered position, and that the device (1) is provided with a drive (13) that is operated from a hydraulic crane (5), affixed to a floating structure, with an articulated arm (6) at the end of which the bell (2) is fastened and which is able to drive the partition (12) into the alluvial deposits (24) and to move the bell (2) in a horizontal direction by means of a computer-controlled controller without thereby raising the bell (2).

A cutterhead for dredging water-bed material from a body of water. The cutterhead comprises a shroud presenting a front margin for receiving water-bed material into an interior space of the shroud. The shroud additionally includes a port from which water-bed material can be removed from the interior space of the shroud. The cutterhead additionally comprises a rotatable cutterbar at least partially received within the interior space of the shroud. The cutterhead further comprises a debris guard positioned between the cutterbar and the port. The debris guard is operable to filter the water-bed material removed from the shroud through the port. At least a portion of the debris guard that faces the cutterbar includes a concave shape.

A cutterhead for dredging water-bed material from a body of water. The cutterhead comprises a shroud presenting a front margin for receiving water-bed material into an interior space of the shroud. The shroud additionally includes a port from which water-bed material can be removed from the interior space of the shroud. The cutterhead additionally comprises a rotatable cutterbar at least partially received within the interior space of the shroud. The cutterhead further comprises a debris guard positioned between the cutterbar and the port. The debris guard is operable to filter the water-bed material removed from the shroud through the port. At least a portion of the debris guard that faces the cutterbar includes a concave shape.

An apparatus, system and method for removing and treating contaminated materials on a bottom of a body of water and introducing growth packets to revitalize the treated bottom of the body of water. The structure may comprise a vessel with an open face. The vessel may be lowered down to the bottom of the body of water with the face facing down. As a result, the vessel and the bottom form an isolated space. The structure may comprise at least one agitating device(s) for stirring up the materials inside the vessel so as to form a mixture containing the sediment materials which in turn contain the contaminants. Multiple at least one pipe(s) may be coupled to the vessel for transporting the mixture out of the vessel for processing (filtering, treating with chemicals, etc.) so as to neutralize or eliminate the contaminants in the mixture. Then, the treated mixture can be returned to the inside of the vessel via the at least one pipe(s).

The invention relates to a manoeuvrable trailing dredging vessel comprising; a vessel propulsion member coupled with a propulsion shaft provided with a single gear for driving the propulsion member, a drive system having a central drive shaft coupled with the vessel propulsion member for providing power to the vessel propulsion member, a transmission device having at least a trailing transmission shaft provided with a trailing pinion and a sailing transmission shaft provided with a sailing pinion,
wherein the central drive shaft is coupled with the single gear of the propulsion shaft through one of the trailing transmission shaft and the sailing transmission shaft.