Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) has delivered a new trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) to China Communications Construction Company for use by its Shanghai Dredging division.
The owner has described Xinhaijing 1 (新海鲸1) as China's first extra-large self-propelled TSHD with distributed in-hold dredge pumps. Her two pumps occupy separate compartments forward and aft of the hopper.
ZPMC credits the pumps and optimised pipework with around 30 per cent greater dredging efficiency and more than 20 per cent lower carbon emissions compared to conventional vessels of the same type.
The dredger was designed by China State Shipbuilding Corporation's 708 Research Institute. She has an LOA of 180 metres and a hopper capacity of approximately 27,580 cubic metres.
An integrated platform provides one-click dredging, and the owner said unmanned dredging is possible under typical operating conditions.
The TSHD’s keel was laid in September 2025. The vessel was launched on March 6, 2026, and completed trials in the East China Sea on September 21.