Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) has been awarded three dredging-related contracts on the African subcontinent with a combined value of approximately EUR 75 million, the company said in its press release.
In Angola, Boskalis has been awarded a contract by Angola LNG Ltd. for dredging activities related to maintaining the access channel and turning basins of the Soyo LNG port. The project will be executed in joint venture and involves the removal of approximately 11 million cubic meters of sand and silt by medium-sized trailing suction hopper dredgers. Work is set to commence in the third quarter of 2015 and will be completed by the end of 2017. Boskalis also executed the initial capital dredging and reclamation works for this LNG port on behalf of Angola LNG Ltd. from early 2007 until mid-2009.
For the construction of an iron ore terminal in the Gabonese port of Libreville, Boskalis has been awarded a contract by Gabon Special Economic Zone Mineral PORT S.A. for reclamation works and capital dredging. Boskalis will reclaim 45 hectares of land for the terminal and dredge a berthing area for bulk carriers. For this project a total volume of 3.2 million cubic meters of sand and silt will be dredged using medium-sized trailing suction hopper dredgers. The project is due to commence in the third quarter of 2015 with completion expected in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Furthermore, Boskalis signed a contract with Agence Nationale des Affaires Maritimes in Senegal for maintenance dredging in the Casamance river. This river serves as a fairway for vessels destined for the city of Zinguichor. Over a length of 65 kilometers a medium-sized trailing suction hopper dredger will remove a total of 1.5 million cubic meters of sand. This project will commence in July 2015 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.
Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. is a leading global services provider operating in the dredging, maritime infrastructure and maritime services sectors. The company provides creative and innovative all-round solutions to infrastructural challenges in the maritime, coastal and delta regions of the world with services including the construction and maintenance of ports and waterways, land reclamation, coastal defense and riverbank protection. In addition, Boskalis offers a wide variety of marine services and contracting for the offshore energy sector including subsea, heavy transport, lifting and installation (through Boskalis, Dockwise and Fairmount) and towage and salvage (through SMIT). Furthermore, Boskalis has a number of strategic partnerships in harbor towage and terminal services (Keppel Smit Towage, SAAM SMIT Towage and Smit Lamnalco). With a versatile fleet of 1,000 units Boskalis operates in around 75 countries across six continents. Excluding its share in partnerships, Boskalis has approximately 8,500 employees.