Productivity and Cost Analysis of a Mechanical Clamshell Dredging Vessel

Dredging is essential for maintaining waterway accessibility and supporting maritime economies. This thesis focuses on clamshell mechanical dredging, analysing factors affecting production rates (equipment, sediment, and operations) and cost components (maintenance,fuel, labour). It develops Excel based cost estimation models, enhancing efficiency and decision making. These spreadsheets utilize an adjustable cycle time and bucket fill factor to estimate production rates, allowing for flexibil ity in production calculations based on the time required to complete one dredging cycle and the material's capacity to occupy the bucket. The findings of this study can contribute to the optimization of dredging operations, ensuring efficient resource uti lization and informed decision making in various industries that rely on clamshell mechanical dredging for sediment excavation and removal.