DEME, the Belgian dredging, hydraulic engineering and environmental solutions group, continues its ‘green’ investment policy by further expanding its dredging fleet with two new trailing suction hopper dredgers, specifically for servicing its European markets. The ships will be equipped with dual-fuel engines and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanks.
Built according to a ‘green’ design the two vessels will have a ‘Green Passport’ and a ‘Clean Design’ notation. The LNG-fuelled engine ensures 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 they will be ‘best in class’ according to their specific category. Both trailing suction hopper dredgers will be built by the Dutch shipyard Royal IHC. They 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 approx. 8,000 m³, a total length (LOA) of 104 m and maximum draught of 7.5 m.
The second vessel will be a new generation trailing suction hopper dredger to replace the ‘Orwell class’, with a hopper volume of 3,000 (3,500)m³ and LOA 77 m. Its design ensures optimised maintenance dredging works in shallow waters, with primary assets including a very limited maximum draught of 5.00 (5.80)m corresponding with a hopper volume of 3,000 (3,500)m³.
(Source: DEME)
