The consortium Dredging International NV – Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company is to deepen and widen the Suez Canal as part of a US$540m contract.
The contract to dredge the western branch of the Suez Canal at Great Bitter Lake, Deversoir Reach and Kabreet Reach (lot number six), represents 20% of the project. The other 80%, for four lots of the construction of the new Canal, has been awarded to a second consortium which consists of Jan De Nul Group, NMDC, Boskalis and Van Oord.
Announced back in August 2014, the works will see the Suez Canal, which is the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia, widened to a length of 25km and deepened to -24m to enlarge the transit capacity and to increase industrial activity in the area.
Six cutter suction dredgers and two hopper dredgers including some auxiliary equipment will be used to perform the job by Dredging International NV – Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company.
Jan De Nul Group says it will mobilise five cutter suction dredgers: J.F.J. De Nul, Kaerius, Fernão de Magalhães, Ibn Battuta and Zheng He. The dredgers have a combined total installed diesel power of 106,130 kW.
Works will begin immediately and are expected to be completed by August 2015.
By Rachael Doyle
