The steel cutting ceremony for the new 44,180kW self-propelled cutter suction dredger (CSD) SPARTACUS took place today, DEME Group said in its latest announcement.
CSD SPARTACUS, which will be built by Royal IHC, will be the world’s first LNG-powered cutter suction dredger and follows the order of the first LNG-powered Trailing Suction Hopper Dredgers ‘Minerva’ and ‘Scheldt River’.
The concept and basic design for this 164 meters long mega cutter was done in close cooperation with DEME, Vuyk Engineering Rotterdam and IHC.
“This cutter suction dredger is going to be an important benchmark for the industry and a huge step toward limiting the environmental impact of our vessels,” said DEME’s Head of Construction and Conversion, Jan Gabriel.
“ We can state that this CSD is the largest and most complex that IHC has ever built ,” commented IHC’s CEO Dave Vander Heyde . “ The combination of power, size and innovations makes it a true challenge to build. We are proud and honored that DEME has again placed their trust in us.”
The dredge control is arranged for a one-man operation. Also, the vessel will have a heavy-duty cutter ladder with a dredging depth of 45m.
The new CSD will be delivered in the summer of 2019.