Damen wins contract for bespoke dredger for Antwerp 'super project'

New Vessels - February 8, 2010

Computer-generated impression of the CSD for the AMORAS project.

Damen in The Netherlands has won a contract from SeReAnt to design and build a special cutter suction dredger for the AMORAS project at the Port of Antwerp in belgium

The dredger will be customised to meet the precise needs of the dredging and sludge treatment processes for the AMORAS project, and is due to be delivered in September 2010.

Said the company: "Damen is known for its standard cutter suction dredger range, but this dredger is far from standard: the cutter suction dredger is fully adapted to feed the continuous process resulting in 500,000 tons of treated dry material every year."

AMORAS being an environmental project, the cutter suction dredger is fully electrically driven – the required power is some 1,800 kVa, 15.75 kV.

The dredger is fitted out with a swing ladder, and is capable of working at –18m, and has a maximum swinging width of 24m.

As the contamination of some silt is such that it cannot be deposited in the depot, a barge unloader is a vital element of the dredger - pumping the heavily contaminated material directly to shore by the inboard dredge pump.

Manoeuvring of the dredger, which measures 34m by 9.5m, will be carried out using four spud poles, of which two are integrated in a spud carriage, in order to ensure a continuous and smooth process. The spud carriage cylinders, winches as well as the cutter are hydraulically driven.

Both of the inboard Damen dredge pumps - Type BP45 1100, which are capable of 3,000m3/h of mixture each - are electrically driven. They work on a 450mm diameter discharge line of 300m connecting to the sand separation plant.

As the spacious operating cabin is situated on top of the accommodation, it has excellent view on the decks and the work site. The accommodation houses a galley, a seating area and a sanitary space.

The contract between Damen and SeReAnt was signed last autumn, and the dredger is now on the drawing board. Due to the tight delivery schedule construction has aleady started.

Damen Dredging Equipment will manufacture components and the entire dredger will be finished at another of Damen's yards. By the time that the dredger is delivered in September 2010, much of the infrastructure at the AMORAS site will be finished, so that the entire plant will be up and running at the end of 2010.