The design of this new build vessel is based on an existing vessel design from Neptune’s workboat portfolio. Together with the engineering department of Neptune, Jan De Nul integrates its in-house built dredging equipment, including the dredge pump and dredge pipes, the winches, hydraulics and the necessary equipment for an adapted pipeline routing on the fore ship.

Jan Van de Velde, Head of the Newbuilding Department at Jan De Nul Group: “The experience with our existing fleet of water injection dredgers taught us that there was a need for a more compact vessel to reach the smaller corners in ports and rivers. However, despite her compact character, the Pancho has a depth range of more than 20 metres! Perfect for maintenance dredging. We are looking forward to the further completion of this new dredger together with the Neptune Marine Shipyard, with the intention of taking the Pancho into service in March 2022.” 

Martijn Schouten, responsible for sales within Neptune Marine’s shipyard business: “We are proud to build for top player Jan De Nul, who is active all over the world. The knowledge and experience of the Newbuilding Department within Jan De Nul is impressive, and it was inspiring to come up with a dredger in a short time, based on an existing workboat design, that will distinguish itself in the market through its dredging performance and robustness. The construction has been efficient thanks to the excellent cooperation with and input from the Newbuilding Team of Jan De Nul, and we are looking forward to testing the vessel soon, so she can be put to work immediately afterwards.”

Meanwhile, Jan De Nul ordered a second water injection dredger, with the same dimensions and characteristics, from the same shipyard.