DEMEs dual fuel dredgers for Europe
Belgiums DEME Group has confirmed an order for two new dual fuel trailing suction hopper dredgers designed specifically for operation in European waters.
Built according to a ‘green’ design principles, the newbuilds will have ‘Green Passport‘ and a ‘Clean Design‘ notations. They will be equipped with dual fuel engines and LNG tanks, ensuring compliance with all of the international emission requirements within the Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECA). Dual fuel technology is both sustainable and future oriented, as it enables engines to operate on either diesel or LNG while limiting the CO2, Nox and SOx emissions to the strictest minimum.
In view of the innovative technology the ships will be manned with especially trained high-tech personnel and will be ‘best in class’ according to their specific category. Both trailing suction hopper dredgers will be built by the Dutch shipyard Royal IHC and will be operational before the end of 2016.
The first vessel will be a new generation trailing suction hopper dredger in the ‘Antigoon class’, with a hopper volume of some 8,000 m³ and an LOA of 104m. Its maximum draught of 7.5m and powerful pump for pumping dredging materials ashore ensure access and manoeuvrability in confined port environments as well as high suitability for coastal protection and land reclamation works.
The second vessel, measuring 77m LOA, will be a new generation trailing suction hopper dredger to replace the ‘Orwell class. Its design is optimised for maintenance dredging works in shallow waters, including a very limited maximum draught of 5.8m combined with a useful hopper volume of 3,500m³.
The unique arrangements for the propulsion and dredge pump drive, combined with the LNG installation, will reduce fuel consumption and ensure extremely low levels of emissions.
The turnkey delivery by IHC includes the dredging, electrical and hydraulic installation, as well as the automation system. “With this order, IHC has proved its turnkey deliveries are highly competitive in the international market,” said IHC CEO Bram Roelse.
Earlier this year the DEME Group announced its order of two smaller ‘green’ vessels, the self-propelled jack-up vessel ‘Apollo’ and the multipurpose cable-laying ship ‘Livingstone’, which will both service the offshore energy market and are also equipped with dual fuel main engines.
By Larz Bourne
