Beijing: The world's largest all-electric cutter suction dredger began pilot operations in China on Tuesday, clearing silt and sediment from a reservoir in the capital Beijing.

According to Anadolu Agency, the dredger named "Junlan" began its task by clearing a portion of silt and sediment at Guanting Reservoir on the Yongding River. Boasting 600 kilowatts of driving power and a maximum digging depth of 25 meters, the vessel represents a significant advancement in dredging technology.

Tianjin Dredging, a wholly owned subsidiary of China Communications Construction, is responsible for the design and development of the Junlan. The vessel can dredge up to 2,000 cubic meters of silt per hour, equivalent to the volume required to empty a standard swimming pool.

Yang Zhengjun, director of Tianjin's dredging technology and equipment research and development center, noted that the new dredger is three times more efficient than its predecessors. Equipped with advanced underwater pumping facilities, Junlan is capable of transporting sludge over distances exceeding 5 kilometers (3.1 miles).

The dredging plan anticipates the removal of 11.5 million cubic meters of sediment from the bottom of the Guanting Reservoir, marking a significant effort in maintaining the reservoir's capacity and environmental health.