VESSEL REVIEW | Aquadelta – Netherlands’ Van der Kamp to operate new water injection dredger

Dutch shipyard Bijlsma Wartena has delivered a new self-propelled water injection dredger to local family-owned marine projects company Van der Kamp.

The Conoship International-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 gross tonnage of 497. A diesel-electric propulsion arrangement that includes five Paccar-DAF MX-13 390kW main engines drives two 450kW thrusters to propel the dredger to a speed of 10 knots while a dynamic positioning system and an unlimited sailing area allow for operations in large seaports as well as in shallow waterways.

As with other water injection dredgers, the vessel injects large volumes of water into the seabed, fluidising the sediment so that it can flow naturally to other deeper areas. There are two 320kW injection pumps that are electrically driven by horizontal mounted electric motors. The water injection pipes are constructed for water injection up to a depth of approximately 27 meters.

Conoship said the vessel was designed with a long life span in mind, keeping ample room in both the layout and the deadweight for future conversions. This means that the vessel can be equipped with alternative fuel and/or battery systems in the future.

Aquadelta is also fitted with an array of survey equipment that includes a multi-beam echosounder. This enables the vessel to conduct its own seabed assessment activities prior to dredging without having to rely on a separate dedicated vessel.

Accommodations are also available for a regular crew of six.

Design work on Aquadelta was completed in compliance to Bureau Veritas class rules. The dredger's initial operational deployment was in the Port of Rotterdam earlier this year. It was used to remove seabed rock deposits to deepen the waters at the port's Holland America quay in preparation of the arrival of the cruise ship Queen Mary 2.