The “suction hopper dredge” Padre Island as it makes a “cut” or dredging pass in Galveston Channel, Aug. 2, 2023. Hopper dredges are self-propelled, self-loading ships designed to excavate and load seabed material into a self-contained hopper, through trailing drag arms and pumps for transport to a disposal site. The Padre Island can collect 3,600 cubic yards of dredge material per “cut” or dredging pass. After the cut is complete, the Padre Island will move offshore to a designated placement site, and offload dredge material.