IHC soars with newbuild orders
In line with expectations, Netherlands based shipbuilder and equipment manufacturer IHC has boosted its order book for both vessels and dredging equipment as signs of recovery continue to be seen in its markets.
The company was recently awarded a contract for the design, construction and delivery of a sister vessel for the Boskalis cutter suction dredger Helios, which is currently being outfitted at IHC’s yard in Kinderdijk. The mega-cutter suction dredgers will have a total installed power of 23,700kW, pump ashore capacity of 15,600kW and a maximum cutter capacity of 7,000kW for dredging extremely hard materials at depths of from 6m to 35m. Helios is due to be commissioned later this year, its sister in 2020.
IHC has also signed a contract for the delivery of 30 Beaver cutter suction dredgers for the Ministry of Agriculture in Turkmenistan. The cutters will be deployed to improve the irrigation system in the country and to support the development of the agricultural sector. To enable the customer to use the full potential of the equipment, an extensive on-site training programme will be provided by IHC.
Meanwhile, IHC expertise at designing and producing dredging equipment has again been recognised with an order for a spud carriage for Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard (GWS), part of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). The spud carriage will be delivered together with a set of dredge pumps for a self propelled mega-cutter suction dredger being built by the Chinese company.
At a contract signing IHC’s CEO Dave Vander Heyde said: “We are extremely proud to see that our customers are satisfied with the design and quality of previously ordered vessels and equipment and that this has resulted in repeat orders. We are also pleased to add value to our customers’ fleets by developing tailor made solutions to meet their dredging challenges.”
By Larz Bourne
