Van Oord, in cooperation with ZEDHub, Smart Delta Drechtsteden, the Municipality of Dordrecht and Port of Rotterdam, has carried out a pilot project with the crane vessel Christiaan P. This fully electrified vessel runs and operates emission-free, which is a first in the dredging industry. The results of the pilot project offer valuable insights that will help the industry operate completely emission-free in the future.

The pilot project took place in the seaport of Dordrecht and was partly financed by the Regio Deal Drechtsteden-Gorinchem. Thanks to the successful collaboration between companies and government, this pilot project shows how collaboration and innovation can lead to sustainable solutions in the maritime sector.

Christiaan P. is a crane vessel owned by our subsidiary Paans Van Oord. It is used for various kinds of marine engineering work, mainly dredging projects and the installation of shore protection and revetments. Prior to the pilot project, the Christiaan P. was re-converted. All its engines were replaced with electric motors and the crane was also replaced by an electric version.

For the pilot, two DENS Powerhub mobile battery systems of 870 kWh each were used. These batteries were charged at night at the shore power point of the municipality of Dordrecht. In addition, a Nexus fuel cell and a hydrogen storage container were installed on board, so that the batteries can be charged when shore power is not available.

During the pilot project, research was conducted into how effective and efficient battery-electric dredging is in practice. Various measurements were carried out, such as energy consumption when sailing at different speeds and during light and heavy dredging operations. In addition, testing was done on how the batteries are charged via shore power and the ship’s own generator. Research was also conducted into whether the batteries can be continuously charged during work using hydrogen.n

All the trials and tests went extremely well. The data collected is now being developed and analysed. The results of these tests are of great importance because they are valuable not just for us but for the whole industry. The lessons learned can be used soon to implement other zero-emission projects and thus achieve our sustainability goals.

Cor Paans, Manager Paans Van Oord: ‘We are extremely proud of our engineering team who prepared and carried out this pilot project. Thanks to their expert preparation, everything worked flawlessly. That was also thanks to close cooperation with the supply companies (DENS, Nexus Energy and Roger Energy) and the cooperating partners. The Christiaan P. is a great addition to our Zero Emission fleet and the results of this project will make a significant contribution to achieving Van Oord’s sustainability goals.’

Arjen de Jong, Director ZEDHub: ‘This project was initiated by ZEDHub, where companies, the education sector, and government are working together to accelerate the energy transition in the dredging sector. It’s a great example of how we investigate and improve technical and economic feasibility and the associated risks. By sharing what we learn with the Dutch dredging industry, we can help the entire value chain make progress.’

Leen Paans, Harbour Master, Municipality of Dordrecht: ‘As a government, we have the ambition to reduce CO2 emissions. That is why we have entered into a multi-year contract with Van Oord, a party that shares the same sustainable vision. When tendering for such a contract, we always include this sustainable criterion in the award criteria. In this way, we encourage companies to work on this and we act as a launching customer, with which we promote innovation as the first purchaser. As a government, we can make the right assessment in this, without overtaxing the market with unrealistic demands. This pilot in the seaport of Dordrecht gives a realistic picture of what is possible.’