At Damen partner yard 189 Shipyard in Vietnam, the trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) 1000 Kapuka, built for Port Otago and Napier Port, has been successfully launched.
"Scheduled for delivery later this year, the almost 60-metre-long vessel is based on a proven Damen design and has been customized to meet the operational requirements of both ports. Combining the latest monitoring equipment with outstanding maneuverability thanks to azimuth thrusters and a bow thruster, the TSHD 1000 is particularly suited to maintaining safe and accessible harbor approaches and waterways," Damen said.
The new dredger will be jointly operated by Napier Port on New Zealand's North Island and Port Otago on the South Island. Through a joint venture, the two port authorities have secured long-term access to dedicated dredging capacity for their respective harbor maintenance programs.
Also, the arrangement enables both ports to plan dredging campaigns independently of third-party contractors while ensuring the continuous availability of a modern dredging asset in the region.
Following the successful launch, the vessel has entered its final outfitting, testing, and commissioning phase alongside the quay.