UK Dredging celebrates 50th anniversary of grab dredger cherry sand
ABP’s operating division UK Dredging (UKD) has celebrated the 50th anniversary of one of its key dredging vessels – the Cherry Sand, ABP said in its press release.
The Cherry Sand was built by Appledore Shipbuilders in North Devon for ABP’s predecessor the British Transport Docks Board and first entered into service in 1968. The grab hopper dredger was designed to maintain the Port of Grimsby, which is also Cherry Sands’ Port of Registry. Today, the ship operates much further afield, dredging not only on the Humber but at ports all around the UK.
During her working life the Cherry Sand has moved an estimated 25 million tonnes of mud, silt and sands from berths, docks and harbours and their approaches.
UKD operates the largest British-owned dredging fleet. The fleet comprises a modern, versatile and well-equipped combination of vessels, including trailing suction and grab dredgers, bed leveller/ploughs and hydrographic survey vessels.