Boskalis launches trailing suction hopper dredger GATEWAY

Papendrecht, 28 September 2009

 

The naming and launch of the 12,000m³ Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger the GATEWAY took place at the IHC Merwede Offshore & Marine yard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, The Netherlands on Saturday, 26 September 2009 at about 11:00 a.m. The ship is being built for Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. The ceremony was conducted by Mrs M.J.A. Smits-Schiebroek, the spouse of ir. drs. H.N.J. Smits, the CEO of Rotterdam Port Authority N.V.

 

IHC Merwede and Boskalis signed a contract in November 2007 for the design, engineering and construction of two identical TSHDs. The assignment is unusual in that the ships are being built at the same time at two different IHC Merwede yards. The keel of the GATEWAY was laid on 4 February 2009. Completion is planned for the first quarter of 2010. Her sister ship is currently under construction at IHC Dredgers in Kinderdijk, The Netherlands, where she will be launched in mid-February 2010.

 

The 12,000m³ vessel was designed by IHC Merwede Offshore & Marine in close collaboration with Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. During the design phase, the emphasis was primarily on keeping the weight of the vessel relatively low, while maximising hopper capacity.

 

The GATEWAY has a single suction pipe with an underwater pump, allowing it to dredge to a depth of 62m. The ship has two hoppers, one in the bow and one in the stern, with the pump room in between. This improves trim in shallow waters. In addition, the ship has a high pump capacity so that it can transport large volumes over a considerable distance. These specifications make the vessel suitable for a range of projects throughout the world, whether they involve large-scale land reclamation, beach replenishment or the construction of ports and waterways.

 

Name                                                                                  GATEWAY

Type                                                                                     trailing suction hopper dredger

Client                                                                                   Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V.

Shipbuilder                                                                        IHC Merwede Offshore & Marine

Length overall                                                                    137.00m

Length between perpendiculars                                   125.00m

Beam                                                                                  28.00m

Depth                                                                                  13.50m

Hopper capacity                                                                12,000m³

Diameter of suction pipes                                              1,200mm

Maximum dredging depth                                               62.00m

International draught                                                        8.00m

Dredging draught                                                             10.00m

Speed                                                                                 15.4 knots

Accommodation                                                                24 people

Profile Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V.

Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. is a leading global services provider operating in the dredging, maritime infrastructure and maritime services sectors. We provide creative and innovative all-round solutions to infrastructural challenges in the maritime, coastal and delta regions of the world including the construction and maintenance of ports and waterways, land reclamation, coastal defense and riverbank protection. The company holds important home market positions in and outside of Europe and targets all market segments in the dredging industry. It also has positions in strategic partnerships in the Middle East (Archirodon) and in offshore services (Lamnalco). Boskalis has a versatile fleet of over 300 units and operates in over 50 countries across five continents. Including its share in partnerships, Boskalis has approximately 10,000 employees.

 

IHC Merwede is focused on the continuous development of its design and construction activities for the specialised shipbuilding sector, in particular the dredging and offshore industries.

IHC Merwede is world market leader in the construction of specialist dredging equipment. IHC Merwede is also recognised as an outstanding builder of complex, custom-built vessels for offshore construction. The clients of IHC Merwede include major dredging companies, oil and gas exploration groups, offshore contractors and government authorities.

IHC Merwede has a staff of approximately 2,800 at its locations in the Netherlands. There are also branches in China, India, the Middle East, Nigeria, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

 

Martijn L.D. Schuttevâer

Director of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

Telephone:           +31 78 69 69 822 / +31 6 200 10 232

Telefax:                  +31 78 69 69 020               

E-mail:                   m.l.schuttevaer@boskalis.nl

 

Renée C.M. van Krimpen-Baudesson

Telephone:           +31 184 411555 / M +31 62 229 13 29

E-mail:                   pr@ihcmerwede.com

 

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