The launch ceremony of ARZANA – a 6,000m3 trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) – took place on 20 September at Royal IHC's shipyard in Kinderdijk, The Netherlands. It is the first custom-built, state-of-the-art TSHD in the Middle East, the company said in its press release.
"The keel-laying took place on 6 March 2017, and the vessel is expected to be delivered as scheduled in early 2018. This success is due to the excellent cooperation between our two companies, which stretches back many years,” says IHC CEO Dave Vander Heyde. “IHC is proud to contribute to NMDC’s international growth and fleet investment strategy. We value our enduring relationship, which has led to the delivery of many cutting-edge vessels.”
“The design is the result of the long-term business partnership between IHC and NMDC,” adds NMDC CEO Mr Eng. Yasser Zaghloul. “It is a tailor-made solution that combines shallow draft and a large dredging depth with high manoeuvrability. The ARZANA has also been specifically designed for operating in high temperatures. We are confident that this new vessel will contribute to our aim of positioning NMDC as a leader in our industry.”
The project also includes a training package for NMDC’s crew, as well as a full programme of life-cycle support from IHC. This features condition-based monitoring, which will safeguard a long and sustainable operation for the ARZANA.