A few thousand years ago, the ancient Egyptians figured out that if they dug canals from the Nile, they could irrigate more land for crops. A brilliant idea―until a year later, when all those canals became big, long puddles. "No problem," said the Pharaoh's chief engineer. "Send hundreds of men out with buckets to scoop out the silt and mud." Another brilliant idea—for anyone who wasn't handed a bucket, that is. Thusly was born the dredging profession.

 

You can bet the ancient Egyptians wished they had one of these. (Source)

Modern dredging equipment has taken most of the back-breaking element out of the work these days, and dredge operators scoop up about $45,000 per year on average (source). It's the ideal job for people who spent hours as a kid digging up sand here and dumping it over there, hoping to create waterways through the backyard.

That's essentially what dredging is all about. Work as a dredge operator also appeals to people who abhor the thought of spending all their time in a cubicle. You'll get plenty of fresh air, work with tools and machinery, and travel to different parts of the world, depending on whom you work for.

Dredge operators are unsung heroes of modern commerce, even though the actual duties sound humdrum: removing sand, silt, and various materials from lakes, harbors, and other bodies of water. Why is it important? In a word, shipping. 

Container ships are monstrous and keep getting bigger. They need ports that are deep enough to allow them to come in and offload. But without regular dredging, ports around the world would close, or else be limited to rowboats and paddle boards.

Think of how many shipping containers you could carry on a rowboat. Probably not even one and even if you could, you'd be really tired by the time you delivered it.

Dredging is more than just maintenance, however. Ever heard of the Suez Canal? How about the Panama Canal? Those are just two instances of dredging projects that changed the way the world shipped and received goods. You know, economic game-changers. No big deal.

For modern projects, dredgers come in one of two flavors: mechanical and hydraulic. Mechanical dredgers use a giant bucket or claw to scoop up material, one clump at a time, and dump it on a barge for transport. Not the most efficient method, but it gets the job done in tight spaces. 

The other flavor is hydraulic, or basically using a huge vacuum cleaner to do the same thing. Sometimes the material on the bottom needs to be loosened up, so the dredger will use water jets or a rotating toothed cutter to help it along.

But where does this stuff go? Like the dredgers themselves, there are two types of containers for dredged material. One is called a cutter suction, which is basically a barge-like vessel with a long pipe attached to deliver the material to shore or another location. 

The other version is called a hopper dredger, because it collects the material in a huge bin (or hopper) that takes up a big part of the ship. When it's full, the ship heads out to sea and dumps the hopper.

While life as a dredge operator works well for those with a wandering spirit, it's not exactly for adventure-seekers. Dredging can be, well, dull. It's not uncommon to work twelve-hour shifts or spend two to three weeks aboard a ship on one job. That means you're also eating, sleeping, and living with the same group of people in tight quarters. This is cabin fever, but surrounded by water—a devious twist on an old concept.

When you're not busy being bored, you'll work hard keeping the ship running. Typical duties include painting, cleaning, routine maintenance of equipment, repositioning the dredge, assisting with navigation, and anything else your boss can dream up.

 

Plus, every day is a mix of Halloween and casual Friday. (Source)

The work never stops, even if it's raining or freezing cold. You just put your hat and slicker on and go to a happy place in your mind. But don't go too far―you're still working with equipment that can grab you, grind you, and fall on you. You need to stay alert and act with care at all times. Other than that, the job's a piece of cake.

One final aspect of the dredge life to consider: it's not steady work. A job might take a few weeks or a few months, and when it's done the dredge ship moves on to the next location. And so do you. Or, as is often the case, there might not be a next job lined up, so you go home and wait. For some people that lack of stability is a deal-breaker, but for others it's a minor issue and a small price to pay for the overall charm and ease of dredge operating.

Experienced dredge operators can expect their salaries to increase over the years, with the top earners raking in $70,000 or more (source). Other opportunities for advancement and―dare we say it―adventure are available on dredge ships that work overseas. You'll see the world...mostly from the deck of the ship a quarter mile from shore, though. But hey, you'll still see it.

College degrees and even high school diplomas are not required to get a job on a dredger. But since dredging positions don't open too often, it's not a bad idea to add a few useful lines to your résumé. That's how you'll beat out all the other candidates who didn't read this fancy career guide on dredge operations.

If the dredgery doesn't scare you away and the perks fill your sails, then dig in, matey. The seas and ports of the world await you.

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