The massive piece of machinery is being sent to Christchurch for maintenance after stopping operation about a month ago.
Port Otago marine and infrastructure general manager Sean Bolt said it needed one of its ''rams rechromed''.
''Basically, it's a big piston with seals around it. It's steel, but gets covered in chrome to get a perfectly smooth layer.''
The work would cost about $10,000 and would come from the dredge's budget.
The port was also hiring a new crew, who would probably start work in the new year. The previous crew had been redeployed for wharf repair and other jobs.
There was work for the dredge ''for the next 20 years'', but it being out of operation had not interfered with shipping, he said.
It has no conventional propellers; instead, three 13m legs enable it to ''crab'' its way across the seafloor so it can load the barge Hapuka with spoil.
The 35m, 650-tonne vessel began operations in July.
