DEME launches LNG-powered dredger Meuse River

Belgian dredging specialist DEME and Dutch shipbuilder Royal IHC have launched the LNG-fueled trailing suction hopper dredger Meuse River.

DEME said on Monday that the launching ceremony took place at IHC’s shipyard in Krimpen aan den Ijssel on Saturday, November 16.

Meuse River has the same design as the IHC-built dredger Scheldt River that joined the DEME fleet in 2017 and which operated non-stop on waterways and access channels in Europe ever since.

The company added that the vessel features several energy smart technologies, developed by DEME and IHC, such as a hybrid dredge pump drive system to reduce the effect of load variations.

For automation of the dredging process, IHC developed the intelligent IHC ECO automation package, which results in higher dredging performance. Additionally, Meuse River has better fuel efficiency in sailing and dredging conditions are achieved with two-speed propulsion and combinator mode.

According to the company, the vessel will join the DEME fleet in 2020. DEME also has two other dredging vessels under construction, including another LNG-powered vessel Spartacus, which is dubbed the most powerful cutter suction dredger in the world.

Luc Vandenbulcke, CEO of DEME, said: “Building on the success of our pioneering trailing suction hopper dredger Scheldt River we can provide our customers with an identical, versatile and highly efficient vessel for a wide range of dredging activities.”

Dave Vander Heyde, CEO of Royal IHC, added: “We are proud that after we have successfully delivered Scheldt River to DEME, we have reached this milestone for Meuse River – another IHC-built TSHD prefitted to be capable of operating on LNG.”

It is worth reminding that the LNG-fueled trailing suction hopper dredger Bonny River joined DEME’s fleet in mid-July 2019.