IHC starts building DEME’s LNG-powered cutter suction dredger

Dutch shipbuilder Royal IHC on Wednesday held a steel cutting ceremony for Belgian DEME’s new vessel, claimed to be the world’s largest and the first LNG-powered cutter suction dredger.

The dredger, named Spartacus, will be 164 meters long and have a total installed power of 44,180 kilowatts.

The four main diesel engines for the Spartacus are also capable of running on LNG, marine diesel oil (MDO) and heavy fuel oil (HFO), while the two auxiliary engines have the dual-fuel technology.

Wärtsilä has been contracted to provide the dual-fuel engines for the vessel and the Finnish company’s fuel gas storage and supply system.

The LNG-powered vessel is expected to be delivered to the owner in the summer of 2019.

Besides Spartacus, IHC has been previously contracted by DEME to build LNG-powered trailing suction hopper dredgers, Minerva and Scheldt River, and LNG-ready Bonny River.

LNG World News Staff