World's most powerful cutter suction dredger officially delivered for operation

2021-08-11 09:00

DEME Group, a Belgian leader in marine engineering and dredging, has officially taken delivery of the giant trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) "Spartacus" from the Dutch shipyard Royal IHC. The "Spartacus" is the world's largest and most powerful TSHD, and the world's first dual-fuel TSHD, setting a new benchmark for the global dredging market.

The "Spartacus" was built at Royal IHC's shipyard in Krimpen aan den Ijssel, Netherlands. Construction began in September 2017, and the naming ceremony was held this past May.

The vessel is 164 meters long, 34 meters wide, and can dredge to a depth of 45 meters. Its concept and basic design were a collaboration between DEME and IHC. With a total installed capacity of 44,180 kilowatts, it is the most powerful and environmentally friendly TSHD to date. It is equipped with four main engines that can use LNG, marine diesel, and heavy fuel oil, and two auxiliary engines also incorporate dual-fuel technology. The new vessel also features a waste heat recovery system and a single-operator dredging control system. The "Spartacus" will be able to dredge in waters up to 45 meters deep, exceeding the current market maximum of 35 meters. Its powerful fuel capacity and adaptability allow it to operate in very remote locations, even with limited infrastructure.

DEME stated that vessels like the "Spartacus" are unprecedented in the dredging industry, boasting unparalleled productivity and hard-soil cutting capabilities.

DEME Group CEO Luc Vandenbulcke said, "This vessel was designed with three core priorities in mind: pushing the boundaries of dredging potential, unprecedented automation, and minimizing environmental impact. We are proud to be a leader in technology and sustainability in the dredging industry, and this vessel embodies that drive and innovation."

As the industry's first LNG-powered TSHD, the "Spartacus" sets a new benchmark. DEME noted that the "Spartacus" will drive a new level of performance in the dredging industry. Its unparalleled pumping capacity and heavy-duty cutter suction ladder mean dredging depths of 45 meters are achievable, opening up previously impossible projects. The 2,500-ton cutter suction ladder is said to be the most powerful and advanced to date. Its power-driven equipment will support cutting the hardest rock and driving the cutter head through the soil to a depth of 45 meters.

DEME stated that the "Spartacus" is also the world's first dual-fuel TSHD, possessing a Green Passport and Clean Design notation. As the industry's first TSHD to use LNG power, the vessel is equipped with multiple energy-saving devices, such as a waste heat recovery system.

The "Spartacus" also incorporates other smart innovations to maximize productivity, including an onboard workshop with vibration-dampening floors, enabling maintenance and repair of the cutter head during vessel operation.

DEME Group is an international leader in marine engineering based in Antwerp, Belgium. Established over 150 years ago, DEME has a long history in dredging and reclamation, marine engineering, and environmental construction, and is a world-renowned dredging company. Since 2000, DEME has expanded its business scope into several new areas: offshore engineering project development, offshore oil and gas development and decommissioning, and seabed mineral exploration and utilization. While primarily focused on dredging, DEME has recently focused on wind farm installation, which now accounts for over 40% of the company's total output. DEME Group has also begun preliminary technical research and experiments in deep-sea mining.

Thanks to its global development strategy, DEME Group has transformed from a traditional dredging company into a marine engineering giant, operating one of the most technologically advanced and diverse fleets in the industry.

It is understood that after delivery, the "Spartacus" will immediately embark on its first deployment in Egypt, DEME's largest ever dredging and land reclamation project.

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