Bucketline System – 115 buckets
Dredging is a form of excavation carried out
underwater or partial water where water is pumped
to flood the potential tin deposit ground and dislodge
the tin bearing soil. Dredging scoops up the soil
and is more effective in extracting tin ore, when
compared with other techniques. The tin dredge
performed at a higher efficiency and productivity
than other methods, and by 1931, British companies
overtook the Chinese and controlled about 65% of
the total tin production in Malaya.
The first successful bucket tin dredge running
in Malaya was introduced by the Malayan Tin
Dredging Ltd., in January 1913. It was about 150
feet long and fitted with 10 cubic feet buckets. The
dredge was steam powered and was capable of
digging up to a depth of 50 feet. Although relatively
small in size and dredging capacity, it was able to
scoop up sufficient tin ore to enrich the company.
It was reported that the company became
prosperous and employed many workers who later
established a town called Kampong MTD, named
after the Malayan Tin Dredging company.
Bucket weighing 2 ton
75