The new rig, the HV 806, cost 12 months, starting in November.

The rig is designed to de-water reclaimed land so that it can be used for construction more quickly. It was constructed specifically for Ballast Ham Dredging and is capable of installing vertical drainage systems to a depth of 60m. . .

. . It is also capable of penetrating hardened, compacted material using a force of 45t, and is also equipped with a highpressure jet system. For safety reasons - such as an unexpected storm or for maintenance - the rig can be struck and dis-assembled within minutes.

Ballast HAM Dredging says that, in the Netherlands the maximum depth to which vertical drainage is installed is usually 20m, but in other countries, such as Singapore, projects are regularly executed to a depth of more than 40m.

Prior to being delivered to Singapore, the rig will be tested on a project in The Netherlands, and the company says that it is currently negotiating another project for the HV 806 which will see it work at a depth of approximately 45m in very dense sand.

At present, Ballast Ham Dredging has seven rigs at its disposal, three of which are usually deployed in the Netherlands. However, since December 2000 three rigs have been assigned to jobs in Singapore, and will be joined later this year by the HV 806.