Van Oord has named a new cutter suction dredger at the yard of Damen Dredging Equipment in Nijkerk, the Netherlands. The vessel, which was given the name Mangystau, is the second modified Damen CSD 650 cutter suction dredger in the Van Oord fleet. The naming ceremony was performed by Ms J.P.T.M. Verwijs, wife of the chairman of Van Oord’s Works Council.
Van Oord and Damen have jointly optimised the dredger by introducing additional tank capacity and specific safety and environmental features according to the Van Oord fleet standard and the client’s requirements. As a result, the Mangystau has been given the coastal waters classification. The cutter suction dredger will be handed over in early January, after which it will be transported by road and will become operational on Van Oord dredging projects in the Caspian Sea.
‘The success of sister ship Ural River laid the basis for the design of the Mangystau. Damen’s knowledge combined with our practical experiences resulted in a very versatile vessel. The name Mangystau refers to a province in the region of the Caspian Sea, which is an important working area for Van Oord,’ says Govert Van Oord, area director for Europe.