Cutter suction head dredges have many of the same characteristics as the bucket ladder dredge. They require a skilled crew, they are maneuvered with spuds or anchors, their spillage is a function of surface conditions, their environmental impact is the same and they tend to be custom built or produced in low quantities. Production rates of 10s km3/day can be achieved in sandy soil down to 30m. A cutter suction head dredge will have an initial cost of one million to ten million dollars depending on production and depth of operation[i]. The cutter suction head mounted to long arms have the ability to reach deeper than excavators but are limited by draft and sea state conditions in shallow water or near shore.
[i] Vlasblom W.J. (2005, May). Cutter Suction Dredge, WB3408B Lecture Notes. Retrieved from http://www.dredging.org/content.asp?page=105