Damen has celebrated a successful 2015, selling 12 dredgers from its Cutter Suction Dredger (CSD) range.
Most of the deliveries were stock built vessels, a number of which were being built on speculation when an order was placed for them prior to completion. A feature of standardised Damen vessels is that, though built in series, they can be customised with standard options to meet individual client requirements.
This practice of stock building, a key feature of Damen’s philosophy, ensures that clients receive the swiftest possible turnaround of their order.
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The CSDs have a broad range of applications; including dredging approach and navigation channels, sand mining for construction projects and irrigation channels, work on hydropower dams and irrigating reservoirs to prevent silting.
As such, they are operated by a wide variety of clients, including port authorities, coast guards and a wide range of dredging contractors.
Product Director Olivier Marcus of the Damen product group Dredging says: “The 2015 results show the success of Damen Dredging Equipment since it became part of the Damen Shipyards Group.
“We have many years of experience in building dredgers before that, though each one was a custom special. After 2005 our range became standardised and available on stock, with all the benefits that go with this. Since then we have delivered almost 100 standard CSDs.”
The latest addition to the CSD range, available since 2012, is the Damen CSD 650.
The model has been a notable success from the outset, according to Damen. Two are being operated by leading dredging and marine contractor Van Oord.
The process of optimisation is ongoing, according to Mr Marcus: “We will continue to optimise and extend our range, based on feedback from clients and new developments of our subcontractors.
“In the future expect to see increased levels of automation and remote monitoring. The idea being to increase efficiency by carrying out trouble shooting at a distance; often removing the need to send out a service engineer and, when one must be sent, ensuring that he is suitably equipped for the task in hand upon arrival.”
