UK Dredging, part of Associated British Ports (ABP), has ordered a new diesel-electric Water Injection Dredger (WID) from Damen Shipyards Group.
The vessel is a Shoalbuster 2711 WID, which Damen is calling ’a unique and innovative approach to water injection dredging’.
Instead of submersible jets, the vessel will use a fully electric Damen E-DOP450 dredge pump, the largest in Damen’s portfolio, with a capacity of 4,000m3 per hour.
The 321t vessel will also have a hydraulically operated 30t A-frame by Huisman, which can be tilted when not in use so that the plough can be stored on the vessel’s aft or dismounted and stored on the quayside to allow the vessel to undertake other functions.
It has two permanent magnet water-cooled 750kW propulsion motors and a 145kW bow thruster.
“The Shoalbuster 2711 WID is an extremely versatile vessel with an operating profile that goes way beyond its primary function,” said Joppe Neijens, Damen sales manager Dredging. “This project demonstrates the versatility of the standardised shipbuilding approach: even though the vessel is built in series it can be adapted to meet the needs of the customer.”
UK Dredging general manager Mark Pearson said the dredger was ’an important milestone’ for the company because the company will be able to offer a range of different dredging techniques according to local conditions, and while principle tasks will be dredging and bed levelling to a depth of 25 metres she can also be used for survey services and buoy handling.
UK Dredging’s fleet comprises three Trailing Suction Hopper Dredgers, one Grab Dredger, and two support multicats. The new vessel is due to be delivered in 2025.
