Port Otago, Napier Port: Work on new dredger in full swing

Twelve months ago, Port Otago and Napier Port announced the commissioning of a new $36 million trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) – to be built by Dutch shipbuilder Damen.

“Now halfway through the two-year build period, we’ve reached a significant milestone. This week, in Yard 189 in Haiphong (Vietnam), the two main propulsion engines were placed in the aft engine room,” Port Otago said.

The dredge’s engine configuration is:

• 2 x main propulsion engines (see photo 2 – Caterpillar engines),

• 2 x generators in the aft engine room,

• 3 x auxiliary engines in the forward engine room (one each for the jet water pump, dredge pump and transverse thruster).

The dredger is on schedule for a late 2026 delivery to New Zealand.