Dredging equipment

Bottom discharge systems

Bottom doors in a hopper dredger

Why choose our bottom discharge systems?

Our bottom discharge systems offer unrivalled efficiency and durability to ensure optimum performance for your dredging operation. 

  • Fast and complete discharge
    Our systems are designed to ensure fast and complete discharge of soil through the hopper bottom, minimising unloading time and maximising productivity.
  • Robust design
    Designed with maintenance and repair in mind and built to withstand harsh conditions. The bottom doors and valves are of simple, durable construction. All vulnerable parts are positioned above the waterline to prevent wear and tear, increasing the longevity of the system.
  • Excellent sealing
    High-quality sealing solutions prevent cargo loss and ensure that soil is only discharged at designated points. At the same time, preventing water from entering the hopper at the start of operation to maximise production in situations where overflow is not permitted or beneficial (e.g. dredging silt).
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Product types available

Double bottom door
Bottom door systems

Available in single and double door versions, this system is a hinged, closed box construction complete with lifting eyes and operated by hydraulic cylinders mounted away from the soil in the hopper. 

  • Large door openings, for fast discharge of large obstacles such as clay (balls)
  • Suitable for different hopper configurations
Conical bottom valve system
Conical bottom valve systems

Consisting of a valve with guide fin assembly, seal and actuation mechanism, this system ensures smooth discharge, especially in shallow water due to the limited protrusion below the bottom of the vessel.  

  • Robust and reliable sealing is provided by the conical shape
  • Limited moving parts in contact with soil
  • Easily replaceable seals
Pre-dumping door
Pre-dumping doors

Designed for partial discharge in shallow water to reduce draught prior to full discharge. This system uses doors or valves that do not protrude below the vessel during operation. Ensuring safe discharge of soil even with very limited draft. 

  • Safe discharge in shallow water
  • Reliable sealing to keep the soil in the hopper when needed
Self-emptying door
Self-emptying doors

These doors provide access to the suction channel. They are hydraulically operated to control the right amount of soil towards the dredge pump to be pumped out of the vessel, ensuring maximum discharge production. 

  • Proper discharge rate control
  • Allowing increased hopper volume in dumping operations

Additional equipment: hopper nozzles

Hopper nozzles provide efficient soil fluidisation by distributing jet water into the hopper. Ensuring fast discharge of soil leaving a clean hopper to maximise hopper volume for the next trip. 

An important feature of our hopper nozzles is that they have been designed to prevent the ingress of soil into the jet water system. The hopper nozzles are available in a wide variety of sizes. To ensure proper jet water distribution in the hopper matching the jet water flow and pressure.

 

Hopper nozzles

Benefits:

  • Wear resistant material
  • Easy to maintain

More information?

Bottom doors

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Discover how our state-of-the-art bottom discharge systems can improve the performance and efficiency of your dredging vessels. Our experts are ready to provide you with tailored solutions and comprehensive support.