Drag head and trailing suction hopper dredger

Drag head (100) for dredging material (2) from a bed (3) of a body of water and transporting the material (2) to a suction tube (120), the drag head (100) being arranged to be dragged over the bed (3) in a dragging direction (D) by a drag member, wherein the drag head (100) comprises:

• a heel section being (111) connectable to the drag member and having a bed engaging surface (122) arranged to follow the bed (3);
• and
• a suction section (110) comprising:
• a suction opening (113);
• a suction chamber (112);
• and an outlet (114) for connection to the suction tube (120) such that an underpressure can be created in the suction chamber (112) to suck up the material from the bed through the suction opening (113) and the suction chamber (112) to the outlet (114), wherein the suction section (110) is adjustably mounted to the heel section (111) such that an orientation of the suction opening (113) can be adjusted relative to the heel section (111), wherein the suction section (113) comprises a lower edge (115) forming a trailing edge of the suction opening, wherein the lower edge is lower than the bed engaging surface of the heel section (111).

A method of suction dredging a mixture of solids and water from the bed of a

• body of water using a drag head comprising a heel section (111) and a suction section (110), the suction section (110) comprising:
• a suction opening (113);
• a suction chamber (112);
• and
• an outlet (114) for connection to the suction tube (120), wherein the suction section (110) is adjustably mounted to the heel section (111), wherein the suction section (110) comprises a lower edge forming a trailing edge (115) of the suction opening (113), wherein the lower edge is lower than the bed engaging surface (122) of the heel section (111),
• the method comprising:
• dragging the heel section (111) across the bed (3) in a first direction;
• positioning the suction section (110) at a desired depth and angle with respect to the heel section (111) such that the suction section (110) at least partially engages and enters the bed;
• applying suction to the suction section (110) to cause the bed material to be sucked up in a direction at least partially opposed to the first direction and be mixed with water;
• and
• transporting the mixture to a surface of the body of water.