Dutch expertise begets Indonesian newbuild
Dutch expertise has contributed to Indonesia’s developing maritime industry in the shape of Barito Equator, a Damen 2500 trailing suction hopper dredger built at the country’s Steadfast Marine shipyard.
The first vessel of its kind built in Indonesia and the largest Damen standard hopper dredger built to date, Barito Equator is the result of a technology transfer arrangement with the Damen Shipyards Group. The build took place with assistance from Damen Technical Cooperation (DTC), engineering from Damen Shipyards Gorinchem and the complete trailing dredging system from Damen Dredging Equipment. Damen Marine Components delivered the rudder installation and gearbox as well as a host of other components.
Built for Indonesian dredging company Pelayaran Fortuna Nusantara Megajaya (PFNM), the proven reliability of Damen’s design will be a key asset in maintaining economically vital cargo transport on the Barito River on the island of Borneo. Immediately after delivery, Barito Equator commenced maintenance dredging on the 890km long river in South Kalimantan. Indonesia has invested large sums in capital projects to improve navigability on the waterway, a key cargo and transport link. The river is prone to heavy siltation, which, combined with the extreme environmental conditions during dredging operations, demands highly reliable and efficient equipment.
“This is the first trailing suction hopper dredger ever built in Indonesia, says Gysbert Boersma, sales manager Asia-Pacific at Damen Shipyards Group. “It is a huge accomplishment that wouldn’t be possible without strong local partnerships. Damen has considerable experience in building Damen designed vessels in all parts of the world. We’re proud knowing that Barito Equator, built in Kalimantan, will help ensure South Kalimantan’s continued economic development for many years to come.”
With an overall length of 80.35 metres, the TSHD 2500 has a trailing dredging depth of 22m via a single750mm diameter dredgepipe. Discharge is via bottom doors and bow coupling. For the build in Indonesia, as with all Damen’s TSHD and CSD deliveries, Damen offers global life cycle support and spare parts contracts supported by Damen Field Service engineers available locally.
For Damen’s range of TSHDs, Damen Dredging Equipment designs and delivers the trailing suction dredging systems – including the complete trailing pipe, dredge pumps and deck equipment. The Netherlands based manufacturer also supplies made to measure trailing dredging kits for other newbuilds and retrofits at third party shipyards around the world.
By Larz Bourne
