Two Damen Tugs Equipped for Dredging Role

Baggerbedrijf De Boer B.V. (Dutch Dredging) has made an order for two custom, special-purpose tugs to be built at Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld in the Netherlands.

According to Damen, the tugs are for a 10-year contract with Grand Port Maritime de Guyane in the ports of Cayenne and Kourou in French Guyana.

Their primary functions will be assisting vessels entering and leaving port, and rendering help in the event of emergencies including fire-fighting. An important secondary role for both vessels will be assisting with maintenance dredging operations in the two ports.

The larger of the two, the WID 2915, will be configured for a variety of roles including dredging using the Air and Water Injection Dredging (AIRSET) method. The smaller ASD 2310 SD (Shallow Draught) tug will be fitted out to operate the equipment needed for bed-leveling, and will also carry out surveying activities.

As these two tugs will be the only support vessels available to either port they can also be used for the transportation of equipment and cargo, up to container-sized loads.

The two newbuilds have been designed to meet the needs of the end client; Grand Port Maritime de Guyane, which also contributed to the development of the designs via its own consultant, Hydro GC. The consultant checked and approved the design, and helped optimize the dredging-towing balance so as to achieve an equilibrium within the given specifications.

Dutch Dredging contributed its knowledge of the unique technique of water and air injection dredging, that it has built up over 20 years. Its experience over the past 12 years of operating in the specific conditions of French Guyana has also been very useful.

The WID 2915 is due for delivery in February 2018, with the ASD 2310 SD joining it in November 2017.

[mappress mapid=”23635″]