Driven as always by the imperative of productivity, the spud carriage has been built by IHC to a completely new design featuring a hydraulic, computer controlled buffering system which allows the dredger to continue working in difficult sea conditions.

D’Artagnan is due to start trials in August and will be delivered to SDI in October. A direct departure for the Middle East is then quite likely, where the vessel’s capability to power through sand or rock with equal facility is much in demand. The launch of D’Artagnan is not the only news to cheer IHC Holland Merwede after its recent management buy-out. The company is off to a flying start in its new guise, having booked orders amounting to some 120m, which will keep the group’s yards busy well into 2006.

DEME has ordered an additional two 5,400m3 capacity trailing suction hopper dredgers which replicate their 2003 built Pallieter. The first ship will be built at the IHC Holland Merwede yard in Sliedrecht for deliver in 2006 with the second vessel following in 2007.

D’Artagnan’s place in the Kinderdijk building shed will be taken by a 1,700teu capacity container ship for a Dutch client. Six of IHC Holland Merwede’s standard dismountable Beaver cutter suction dredgers have been ordered for customers in Morocco, India, Russia and Saudi Arabia while two custom cutter suction dredgers will go to a customer in Mozambique. Completing the windfall is an order for three multi-purpose pusher tugs to be built by the IHC Delta shipyard for a domestic customer.

MJ Information No: 20727