Damen Shipyards Group has signed a contract with UK Dredging (UKD), a subsidiary of Associated British Ports (ABP), to build a trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD).
UKD operates the largest British dredging fleet and has been providing port maintenance dredging services since it began life in 1996 as a division of ABP, the UK’s largest port operator, which handles around a quarter of the country’s seaborne trade. The new vessel will be used to maintain navigational depths at ABP’s ports across the United Kingdom.
The contract follows Damen’s delivery of the UKD Seadragon, a water injection dredger, to ABP in 2025.
The new vessel is based on the Damen TSHD 1000 design, customised to UKD’s specifications. The 60-metre vessel will be fitted with a diesel-electric propulsion system incorporating an energy storage system, an electric grab crane and an exhaust after-treatment system with SCR and DPF filters. It will be built at the Ha Long Shipyard in Vietnam, with delivery expected in 2028.
“We are delighted to deepen our partnership with Damen on this important addition to our fleet,” said Mark Pearson, UKD general manager of UKD. “The new TSHD 1000 will enhance our ability to maintain ports across the UK efficiently and sustainably, supporting our mission to provide reliable dredging services for our customers as a key part of ABP’s mission: ‘Keeping Britain Trading’.”
“This contract marks another milestone in our long-standing relationship with UKD,” said Damen Sales manager Joppe Neijens. “We are proud to deliver a vessel that combines proven Damen design with bespoke features to meet UKD’s operational needs.”
UKD’s dredging heritage in British ports stretches back to the 19th century, when most ports maintained their own dedicated dredging fleets. Damen, now 95 years old, operates 35 shipyards and 20 other companies across 20 countries and delivers around 160 vessels per year.
