Wärtsilä has been selected to develop technology for a new environmentally friendly hopper dredger being built by the Damen Shipyards Group.
The Netherlands-based shipbuilding company received the order for the vessel from Cemex UK, a leading supplier of building materials.
Wärtsilä will supply the vessel’s engines and fit them with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology that will reduce emissions to be in line with the International Maritime Organization’s Tier III regulations — making the 103-metre long, 4975 gross tonnage dredger one of the most environmentally sustainable ships of its kind.
The vessel will also be fitted with Wärtsilä controllable pitch propellers and the Wärtsilä ProTouch control system.
The dredger is set to be delivered at the end of 2018, and is expected to begin operations in the North Sea towards the end of 2019.
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Account Manager for Wärtsilä, Dick Heidelberg, said: “We are pleased and honoured to be working with Damen in making this new ship as efficient and environmentally friendly as possible.
Wärtsilä has a depth of experience in providing solutions for dredging operations, and the propulsion equipment selected is the best fit for this vessel.”
Product Manager Dredging at Damen, Olivier Marcus, commented: “Wärtsilä were a logical choice for us to work with for the Marine Aggregate Dredger.
“Their reputation for quality and reliability is combined with a long-standing relationship with our client, Cemex.
“We are very pleased to be working together towards the delivery of the first Damen Marine Aggregate Dredger.”