A split hopper barge (SHB) is a vessel with a large open hold, used to load and transport dredged material. The Barge is loaded by a Cutter Suction Dredger or by a Backhoe Dredger. The barge is self-propelled, and sails to the deposit area, where it unloads the soil. The vessel consists of two halves, and unloading is done by opening, or ‘splitting’ the two halves, and depositing the soil of the seabed.