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Spanish giant for JDN

17 Jul 2008

Belgian dredging leviathan Jan De Nul celebrated the 4th of July by launching what is by far the world's largest trailing suction hopper dredger at the Shipyard La Naval in Sestao, Spain.
The Cristobal Colon is seen nearing launch completion at the Shipyard La Naval in Spain.
The Cristobal Colon is seen nearing launch completion at the Shipyard La Naval in Spain.

With a capacity of 46,000 cu/m, the mega-hopper 'Cristobal Colon' leapfrogs the world's current largest dredger, Jan De Nul's 'Vasco da Gama' by some 50%.

The clearing of the Sestao slipway enables construction of Cristobal Colon's twin vessel, the 'Leiv Eiriksson', to start, with delivery expected next year.

Simultaneous with the launch of Cristobal Colon, Jan De Nul announced that its ambitious fleet expansion programme would continue with the signing of an agreement with the Shipyard La Naval for a 30,500 cu/m trailing suction hopper dredger.

This vessel, which will itself be one of the world's largest dredgers, is due for delivery by the end of 2010.

Read the full story in the August issue of Maritime Journal.

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