The contract to construct the Xin Hai Long became effective on 15th November 2000. After the engineering had started the hopper volume was increased from 12,000m 3to 12,888m the Chinese believe that numbers with as many eights as possible bring good luck. Finishing and trials will now take place in the Netherlands before the vessel sails for Shanghai where delivery will take place on 15 November of this year.

The Xin Hai Long is the largest TSHD ever built for a Chinese owner. It will be deployed at 3as various locations along the Yangtze River, which at 6,300km is one of the longest rivers in the world. The vessel is significant because the Chinese government wants to improve navigation along the Yangtze so that goods manufactured inland can be delivered by river to new port facilities under construction at Shanghai.

The twin screw, 147.5m loa vessel is equipped with two 1,200mm internal diameter suction tubes which can be extended for maximum dredging depths of from 35 to 45m.

Two 9,000kW engines provide a loaded speed of 16 knots while loaded draught is 9m.

Dredged material can be discharged through bottom doors or pumped/rainbowed to shore.

It is possible to unload via the bottom door in two phases.

In Phase 1 part of the load is discharged through pre-dumping doors, thereby decreasing the vessel's draught. In Phase 2, the two rows of box section double bottom doors are opened and the entire load is discharged.

MJ Information No: 17213