Abstract: A suction dredger provided with sweeping arms at the side of the vessel which arms can be placed at an angle with respect to the body of the vessel and are provided with suction apparatus to suck away the upper layer of the water collected in front of the sweeping arms to pump it into the hold of the vessel so that said hold optionally can be used for storing dredging material or oil respectively. The invention further relates to the construction of the apparatus for connecting the sweeping arms to the vessel and to move said arms from an inward storage position into an outboard operative position and vice versa, the sweeping arms being in a tilted position when inboard and if necessary displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the vessel along its deck so that in the case of a suction dredger the normal dredging apparatus can perform its function without being hampered by the sweeping arms, the construction of said apparatus being such that the sweeping arm can be applied to any other type of vessel.