Posted on August 27, 2025
China on Tuesday launched two domestically designed dredgers, in Qidong, East China’s Jiangsu Province. Each with a capacity of 35,000 cubic meters, the vessels are the largest of their kind in Asia and among the world’s most advanced, marking a milestone for the nation’s shipbuilding industry and strengthening its status in dredging technology, according to a report by the People’s Daily.
Dubbed the “twin giants of dredging,” the two vessels embody the confidence of Chinese ingenuity from bow to stern. Measuring 198 meters in length, 38.5 meters in width and 18 meters in depth, they boast Asia’s largest dredging capacity of 35,000 cubic meters, with a maximum digging depth of 120 meters—equivalent to operating at the height of a 40-story building beneath the sea, the report said.
From conceptual design to intelligent system development, and from blueprinting by China State Shipbuilding Corp’s 708 Research Institute to construction by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co, the entire process was completed domestically.
More than sheer size, the dredging twins showcase cutting-edge intelligence. With domestic “one-click dredging” and “integrated navigation and dredging” systems, a single operator can manage the full process—from excavation to reclamation.
Built for strength and efficiency, they can break hard seabeds, dig deep, haul long distances, and reclaim land, and even operate steadily in Force 8 waves. Each can fill its hold in just 90 minutes, ranking among the most efficient dredgers worldwide.
The launch of the two dredgers is rooted in innovation. Using digital shipyard methods and modular construction, efficiency rose by 20 percent, while every step from design to outfitting showcased the ingenuity of Chinese enterprises. Their debut signals China’s move from follower to leader in dredging equipment and reflects the country’s broader shift from manufacturing giant to smart manufacturing powerhouse.
The two dredgers will be widely applicable to port and waterway dredging, offshore sand extraction, land reclamation, deep-sea mining, trench excavation and backfilling, rock bed preparation, and deep-sea pipeline installation, according to Science and Technology Daily.
“China’s dredgers highlight the country’s world-class shipbuilding strength,” Wang Peng, associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday. “In terms of key technologies, China has achieved clear advantages in power, depth, efficiency, and intelligent control systems. On the global stage, Chinese dredgers are highly competitive, widely exported, and well-recognized in regions such as Southeast Asia and Africa for their quality, performance, and cost-effectiveness.
“Dredgers play a vital role in infrastructure development with broad applications,” Wang said. “They are indispensable for port and waterway projects, ensuring channels meet the depth and width required by large vessels, which supports the rise of international shipping hubs. They also enable offshore sand extraction, land reclamation, and deep-sea mining, while carrying out trench excavation and backfilling to secure subsea pipelines.
“Although dredgers do not directly extract energy, they are closely tied to more efficient energy development. They provide stable seabed foundations for offshore energy platforms and help maintain smooth energy transport by clearing sediment around pipelines and keeping shipping channels open, thereby improving both efficiency and security in energy supply,” Wang said.
China’s shipbuilding industry continued to improve its efficiency in the first half of the year, with seagoing vessel completions rising 4.7 percent year-on-year. Its share of the global market remained dominant, accounting for 64.0 percent of new orders, 47.2 percent of completions, and 57.6 percent of order backlogs by compensated gross tonnage, according to data from the Ministry of Natural Resources.
The sector is accelerating its transformation through digital inspections, painting robots, and other smart technologies that help cut costs and boost efficiency. Meanwhile, the resilience of marine transport stood out, with cargo throughput and cargo turnover up 5.2 percent and 6.9 percent, respectively, according to the ministry.
