DEME names second LNG-fueled dredger

Belgian dredging specialist DEME held a naming ceremony for its second LNG-fueled trailing suction hopper dredger Scheldt River.

It is the second TSHD built for DEME by the Dutch shipbuilder and maritime equipment supplier, Royal IHC.

With an overall length of 115.9 meters and a breadth of 25 meters, Scheldt River has a hopper capacity of 7,950 cubic meters.

The vessel was launched in January at the IHC shipyard in Krimpen aan den Ijssel.

It joins Minerva, the first LNG-fueled trailing suction hopper dredger built by Royal IHC for DEME. What is claimed to be the world’s first LNG-powered dredger was launched at the beginning of December last year.

DEME has already secured work for its LNG-fueled fleet, through a contract signed by its unit, Dredging International, with the Belgian transmission system operator Elia.

The world’s first LNG-powered dredgers will carry out the seabed preparations. Cables will be installed by multi-purpose vessel Living Stone, another LNG-fueled vessel entering DEME’s fleet this year.