On 1 May Royal IHC and Baggerbedrijf de Boer – Dutch Dredging signed a contract for the construction of a custom-built 2,300m3 trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD). The decision to invest in a new addition to the Baggerbedrijf de Boer fleet was based on the success of IHC-built TSHDs ALBATROS and MAHURY (delivered in 2013 and 2015 respectively).
The new vessel is characterised by a small draught and can be deployed worldwide. Compared to the two previous TSHDs, it has a larger hopper and the capacity of the dredging equipment has been increased.
The new TSHD will also be equipped with the latest innovation in the field of overflows – the IHC Plumigator®. This tackles issues caused by the overflow process such as air pockets underneath the ship, which can result in a loss of performance, additional downtime and maintenance costs. The Plumigator® overflow also helps to reduce the plume.