Commercial Placer Mining Equipment
Jet Suction Placer
Dredges
Shell Dredging builds custom commercial dredge systems in three platform sizes 10-inch, 12-inch, and 15-inch — engineered for high-volume material handling, fine gold recovery, and demanding field conditions.
3
Commercial Dredge Platforms
400
Cu Yd / Hr (15″ Platform)
.006
Fine Gold Recovery
5,000:1
Concentrator Reduction Ratio
Why Shell Dredging
Built for Commercial Production — Not Prospecting
Most dredges sold today are designed for recreational gold prospecting. Shell Dredging builds something different: commercial jet suction placer systems engineered for operators who need real production, dependable fine gold recovery, and equipment that holds up in remote, demanding mining environments.
Every Shell dredge is custom-built to your site conditions. We work with operators before construction to match the platform, pump configuration, and recovery system to your water depth, material type, access constraints, and production goals.
What Every Shell Dredge Includes
Our Platforms
Three Dredge Sizes. One Commercial standard.
Each model shares the same Shell jet suction technology and integrated recovery system — scaled to match your throughput requirements and site conditions.
Why Shell Dredging
The Largest Suction Dredge in Alaska
Shell Dredging’s 15-inch platform represents what the system is capable of at full commercial scale. Operating in Alaska, it stands as the largest suction dredge in the state, a benchmark that took decades of engineering refinement to reach.
It’s not the size that matters most. It’s what the size enables: continuous high-volume material processing, fine gold recovery at scale, and the ability to work ground that smaller equipment can’t economically justify.
15-Inch Platform Specs
Length
70 feet
Width
25 feet
Deck Height Above Waterline
3 feet
Processing Capacity
400 cu yd/hr
On-Board Power Generation
500 KW
Cutter-Head Pressure
5,000 PSI
Fine Gold Recovery
.006 fine
The Shell System
How the Shell Dredge System Works
Unlike conventional placer equipment, the Shell jet suction system handles excavation, transport, and recovery in a single continuous operation. Here’s what makes it different at each stage.
| Specification | 10-Inch | 12-Inch | 15-Inch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scale | Entry Commercial | Mid-Scale Commercial | Large-Scale Commercial |
| Suction Pipe Diameter | 10″ | 12″ | 15″ |
| Processing Capacity (per hour) | 200 cu yd | 300 cu yd | 400 cu yd |
| Processing Capacity (per day) | 4,800 yd | 7,200 yd | 9,600 yd |
| Fine Gold Recovery | .006 fine | .006 fine | .006 fine |
| Concentration Ratio | 2,000:1 | 2,000:1 | 5,000:1 |
| Cutter-Head Pressure | 5,000 PSI | 5,000 PSI | 5,000 PSI |
| On-Board Power Generation | — | — | 500 KW |
| Hull Dimensions | Contact for specs | Contact for specs | 65 ft × 25 ft |
| Sand Pump Required | No | No | No |
| Custom-Built to Site | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Industry Professionals
What Operators and Geologists Say
No other dredge that I know of has the ability to process so much material at such a high gold extraction rate, and for these reasons, I would rate the Shell dredge as having the most efficient gold extraction system I have ever seen.
Jim Halloran
Alaska Professional Geologist — License #54
I was trained in the operation of the final recovery and clean-up of the Shell system and found it to be easy to understand and enjoyable, even fun, to sit and watch as it produced lots of fine gold.
R.F. (Bob) Sherman
President & Founder — Sherman Equipment Company
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Talk to Shell Dredging About Your Operation
If you’re evaluating a commercial placer gold dredge — whether you’re in early research or ready to spec a system — Shell Dredging can help you work through the right platform for your site conditions, production targets, and recovery goals. We’ve built systems for operations in Alaska, Australia, and beyond. Tell us about your project.