Royal IHC lays keel for DEME’s LNG-powered Spartacus

The keel for the Belgian dredging specialist DEME’s LNG-powered cutter suction dredger Spartacus has been laid at the Royal IHC shipyard in Krimpen aan den IJssel in the Netherlands. 

The Spartacus, with a total installed power of 44.180 kW will be the most powerful cutter suction dredger ever built, according to DEME.

Spartacus will be able to dredge in waters of up to 45 meters, compared to the 35-meter depth which is presently the upper limit in the market. The dredger is capable of operating in very remote locations with limited infrastructure, given the fuel autonomy and accommodation capacity, DEME said in its statement.

The 164 meters long Spartacus will be the world’s first dual fuel cutter suction dredger.

DEME’s newest additions to the fleet are all designed as green vessels equipped with dual fuel engines, capable of running on LNG or diesel fuel.

Spartacus will join the DEME fleet in 2019.