International origins for new splithopper
The August christening of Ocean Traverse Nord heralds the arrival of a remarkable dredger which is the result of an even more remarkable international collaboration.
The christening ceremony took place at Quebec, Canada along quay near the head office of Ocean Industries. The very international building process had seen the splithopper built at Ocean Industries’ own yard at Isle-aux-Coudres to a Spanish design and fitted out with machinery supplied by Damen Dredging Equipment BV of the Netherlands.
The relatively short delivery time of just over a year was possible as the new splithopper made use of an existing design. It is a sister vessel of the Omvac Diez, built by the Nodosa yard in Spain and operated by Canlemar S. L. of that country.
The Ocean Traverse Nord is the first trailing suction hopper dredger for Ocean Industries. The synergy of a Spanish design, Dutch dredging equipment and the the build at a Canadian yard has resulted in a powerful 1.180 m3 capacity self-propelled splithopper fitted out with all necessary dredging equipment for self loading and discharging.
The Damen trailing pipe will dredge to a maximum depth of 30.5m, with the Damen dredge pump of Type BP5045 pumping some 5,500 m3 per hour of mixture. The splithopper is also equipped to pump ashore with the same dredge pump, making use of a 500mm diameter bow coupling unit. The Damen dredging equipment delivery included other elements vital for the loading and discharging processes, such as the two overflows and the two jetwater monitors.
After the festive ceremony, the hopper dredger started its first dredging job immediately. It has been built for the maintenance dredging of two ship channels in the St Lawrence Seaway, a main maritime route in Canada. Dredging at the St Lawrence Seaway has to be executed in three months due to local winter conditions. During the rest of the year the vessel will work more further south.
