Netherlands-based Royal IHC recently delivered a new fleet of six cutter suction dredgers (CSDs) to Bangladeshi marine projects company Western Engineering.
The Bureau Veritas-classed, non-self-propelled dredgers each have an LOA of 58 metres, a beam of 12.44 metres, and a maximum draught of 2.02 metres. The cutter head has a diameter of 2,200 millimetres and 700 kW of installed power. The cutter drive was designed to be capable of accepting temporary overload, resulting in high maximum cutter power.
A Caterpillar 3516C diesel engine with a rated output of 1,825 kW at 1,600 rpm is the main source of power for the directly driven submerged dredge pump and cutter head, though a Caterpillar C32 DITTA Acert 994kW auxiliary diesel engine is also available. The suction/discharge pipe has a diameter of 650 millimetres and dredging can be performed at depths of as much as 18 metres. The engines are both IMO Tier II-compliant and are kept cool with the aid of a system that utilises fresh water.
The other onboard systems draw power from an 800Ah battery pack.
A set of 23.4-metre-long spuds helps each dredger stay in place even during continuous operations while a deck crane with a 5.1-metre outreach and 50 kN of lifting power is also available.
The CSDs are each designed to be crewed by only one operator thanks to a high degree of onboard automation. The lone operator also benefits from onboard air conditioning and amenities that include a toilet and a wash basin.
The CSDs may be easily disassembled, transported, and reassembled. Transport may be by road, rail, or sea, thus providing the operator with multiple options for deployment. Construction of each CSD was done in such a way that dredging can commence as soon as reassembly has been completed on-site.
The dredgers arrived in Bangladesh following a journey of 21 days aboard a heavy lift ship. They will be used in maintenance dredging, environmental dredging, and land reclamation in both inland and coastal waters. Operations are possible with a variety of soil conditions including fine sand and gravel.
| 58-metre Cutter Suction Dredger | |
| SPECIFICATIONS | |
| Type of vessel: | Cutter suction dredger |
| Classification: | Bureau Veritas Class I, X Hull • MACH Dredger – no propulsion, Coastal area |
| Owner: | Western Engineering, Bangladesh |
| Vessel delivery company: | SAL Heavy Lift, Germany |
| Designer: | Royal IHC, Netherlands |
| Builder: | Royal IHC, Netherlands |
| Length overall: | 58 metres |
| Beam: | 12.44 metres |
| Draught: | 2.02 metres |
| Main engine: | Caterpillar 3516C, 1,825 kW at 1,600 rpm |
| Auxiliary engine: | Caterpillar C32, 994 kW |
| Batteries: | 800 Ah |
| Dredging equipment: | Royal IHC pump; Royal IHC cutter |
| Other equipment installed: | Spuds |
| Type of fuel: | Diesel |
| Accommodation: | Toilet |
| Crew: | 1 |