Royal IHC (IHC) has been awarded a contract for the design, construction and delivery of the world’s first LNG-powered (liquefied natural gas) self-propelled cutter suction dredger (CSD). The 44,180kW self-propelled vessel, to be named SPARTACUS, is being built for DEME in Belgium. It will be 164 metres long and can reach a dredging depth of 45m.
The concept and basic design for this mega cutter was done in close cooperation with DEME, Vuyk Engineering Rotterdam (a 100% subsidiary of IHC) and IHC.
The SPARTICUS will be the world’s first LNG-powered (liquefied natural gas) CSD and follows the order for the first LNG-powered trailing suction hopper dredgers (TSHDs) MINERVA and SCHELDT RIVER, and ‘LNG-ready’ BONNY RIVER, that are currently under construction at IHC’s shipyards.
The four main diesel engines can run on LNG, MDO and HFO, and the two auxiliary engines have dual-fuel technology. The application of LNG to power TSHDs has proven to be a very complex puzzle. In close cooperation with DEME, the two organisations have managed to fit all the pieces together. The SPARTACUS will benefit from this joint effort and forward-thinking and represents a new milestone in the industry.
This environmentally-friendly CSD will also have other innovations on board, such as a waste heat recovery system that converts heat from the exhaust gasses to electrical energy. The dredge control is arranged for a one-man operation.
The SPARTACUS reinforces DEME’s commitment to green initiatives. “This cutter suction dredger is going to be an important benchmark for the industry and a huge step toward limiting the environmental impact of our vessels,” says DEME’s Head of Construction and Conversion Jan Gabriel.
(Source: Royal IHC)
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