![Magdalen (Photo: Weeks Marine)](http://media.assettype.com/bairdmaritime%2Fimport%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F200429-6-Eastern-Shipbuilding.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
Eastern Shipbuilding Group has been awarded a contract by Weeks Marine (WMI) for the construction of a new trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD).
The Royal IHC-designed vessel, which will be a near identical sister of WMI's Magdalen (pictured), will be named R. B. Weeks in honour of Weeks Marine co-founder Richard B. Weeks.
The new TSHD will have a length of 108.5 metres, a beam of 24 metres, a hopper capacity of 6,540 cubic metres, and accommodations for 26 people. Power will be provided by two General Electric 16V250 IMO Tier III-compliant main engines.
Delivery of R. B. Weeks is scheduled for early 2023.