Earlier this year Damen Shipyards received the order for four complete dredge packages to be installed in Trailing Suction Hopper Dredgers  currently under construction in Mexico. The identical TSHDs will be fitted out with dredge packages including the trailing pipe, a dredge pump, and various hopper loading and discharging equipment. The delivery follows earlier successful cooperation with the customer and dredge operator SEMAR.

Complete dredge package

At present, the four hopper dredgers are under construction at three different Mexican yards. The vessels have been optimised to receive a Damen dredge package. This package includes a 700 mm trailing pipe, designed to work at a max depth of -25 m, plus a matching dredge pump. The TSHDs are designed to be able to pump dredged material over the bow. For this, the dredge package includes a bow coupling unit. Further dredging gear included in the package delivery are overflows, jet water pumps and nozzles, and the required dredge monitoring instrumentation.

Conical bottom valves will ensure practical dumping of the spoil in the hopper

Mr Horacio Delgado Bravo, the Damen Shipyard Sales Manager adds: “The dredge packages are delivered to the long-time Damen customer SEMAR. They are the Mexican Navy, and in this role they are responsible for all maintenance dredging activities of all Mexican larger ports. As Mexico has quite a substantial coastline, the necessity to operate powerful dredgers is obvious.” The current order follows the delivery of an array of stationary cutter suction dredgers in the previous years.

All dredging components, including the dredge valves, were made in house by Damen Dredging

At present the dredge packages are under construction at the Damen Dredging Equipment yard. The packages will be shipped to Mexico at the end of the year, to be installed on the locally built dredgers. The cooperation between SEMAR and Damen Shipyards is an excellent example of combining strengths.