Australia: “Athena” Arrives in Darwin Harbour

The cutter-suction dredger Athena has arrived in Darwin Harbour, according to the ABC News.

Extension of the Darwin Harbour shipping channel and dredging of berth pockets are required to allow large product tankers to gain access to the proposed LNG facility at Blaydin Point.

This dredger, the largest vessel of this kind ever seen in Australian waters, will commence its work in a couple of days and will keep operating for almost two years.

“The main area is around Blaydin Point, where they are establishing a thing called the module offload facility, which is where all the major equipment will be brought through,” stated Ian Niblock, the Darwin Harbour Master.

The contractor, Rotterdam-based Van Oord, will dredge approximately 15 million cubic metres of mainly hard soil from the harbour.

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Dredging Today Staff, October 24, 2012; Image: Van Oord