CEMEX will receive the first Damen Marine Aggregate Dredger
CEMEX UK Marine Limited has placed an order for the first Damen Marine Aggregate Dredger (MAD). The vessel, which will be built at Damen Shipyards Galati, in Romania, is designed to extract sand and gravel from the sea bed up to depths of 55 meters, including in the challenging conditions experienced in the North Sea. Proudly wearing CEMEX colors, this new ship represents the start of the company’s ambition to modernize the fleet over the coming years, to serve the increasing need for marine dredged aggregates in the U.K
Damen said the MAD 3500 is the result of extensive market research and customer consultation. A new, future-facing vessel of this type is aligned with an aggregate industry faced with an aging fleet of vessels and an increased focus on marine activity. The MAD design has the optimal balance between payload and efficiency within limited dimensions. With a specific lock passage limiting the vessel’s overall length to 103.5 meters, a deadweight of just under 7,000 metric tons and a speed at loaded draught of approximately 12 knots are still achieved. In comparison to CEMEX’s current vessel, SAND HERON, which the new ship will replace, this translates into an additional 20 percent of aggregates that can be delivered per trip. The vessel will boast Lloyd’s Register ECO-notation, courtesy of its green credentials as well as a CAC-3 notation offering a high standard of crew comfort.
The optimal uptime the client required comes courtesy of a number of features. Included is exceptional seakeeping behavior, offering crew comfort in rough seas and the capability to work in heavy weather conditions. The bow is enclosed, protecting deck equipment and reducing green water ingress into the cargo hold. A user-friendly approach to maintenance also helps to maximize uptime. All dredge pipes are situated above main deck level for safety, as well as easy inspection and crane reach. Besides this, the modular construction of the Damen designed and built dredge systems makes for the easy replacement of wear parts on the piping and screening installation.
Wärtsilä will prepare the engines ready for use with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology to reduce emissions, making the vessel compliant with the International Maritime Organization’s Tier III regulations. When delivered, the 103-metre long, 4975 gross tonnage dredger will be one of the most environmentally sustainable ships of its type in operation. Wärtsilä’s full scope of supply includes two Wärtsilä 26 engines, two Wärtsilä 4D775 controllable pitch propellers (CPP), and the Wärtsilä ProTouch control system. The Wärtsilä 26 engine is widely used in the dredger market, while the 4D775 CPP is a new and advanced offering. The Wärtsilä ProTouch system is a state-of-the-art response to market demands for a modern, compact control device. The equipment is scheduled to be delivered to the yard commencing at the end of 2018. The ship is expected to commence operations in the North Sea during the latter part of 2019.
Olivier Marcus, Product Manager Dredging at Damen, said, “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.”
