New dredgers are now in service with operators in Alaska and the Netherlands. Orders have also been placed for water injection dredgers and a new type of unmanned survey craft for operation in Dutch inland and coastal waters.
Electric remote-controlled dredger delivered to Palmer, Alaska
The City of Palmer in Alaska recently acquired a newbuild electric remote-controlled dredger from Mud Cat Dredges of New Richmond, Wisconsin.
The newbuild is already operating alongside a 20-year-old Mud Cat dredger in the fleet of the same owner.
The newer dredger can be transported via a standard 40-foot container for easy deployment to work sites.
Netherlands' Van der Kamp gets new water injection dredger
Dutch shipyard Bijlsma Wartena has delivered a new self-propelled water injection dredger to local operator Van der Kamp.
The Conoship-designed Aquadelta has an LOA of 41.72 metres, a moulded beam of 9.5 metres, a design draught of 2.3 metres, and a speed of 10 knots. Dredging can be performed at depths of up to 27 metres.
The dredger is undergoing further operational trials before it commences work with its new owners.
Van Oord orders two dredger newbuildings
Van Oord has ordered the construction of two additional state-of-the-art water injection dredgers from the Kooiman Marine Group after the successful operation of sister vessels Maas (pictured) and Mersey in 2021.
The new vessels will have the same specifications as their predecessors. Features on each dredger will include a hybrid battery energy management system and diesel-electric engines that will enable compliance to IMO Tier III and EU Stage V regulations.
Van Oord expects the first of the two vessels will be commissioned in the first half of 2024.
Fugro to expand survey-capable USV fleet
Fugro has awarded a contract to Kooiman Engineering and Van Oossanen Naval Architects for the design of a new type of uncrewed surface vessel (USV).
Specifically engineered for operations in both coastal and offshore environments, the new USV will combine an ultra-low carbon footprint with high-quality data collection, weather resilience, and endurance characteristics. It will acquire highly accurate bathymetry and sub-bottom data using hull mounted sensors whilst also having the ability to tow multiple geophysical sensors.
Fugro said the first USV in the series will be available to clients in 2023.
