Press release - 16 May 2008
The name giving and launch of the 5,600m³ trailing suction hopper dredger CRESTWAY takes place at the IHC Merwede yard in Kinderdijk on Friday, 16 May 2008, at about 3:00 p.m. The ship is being built for Royal Boskalis Westminster nv.
The name giving and launch will be performed by Mrs. M. Heemskerk-Valk, the wife of Mr. H. Heemskerk, Member of the Supervisory Board of Royal Boskalis Westminster and Chairman of the Executive Board of Rabobank Nederland.
The CRESTWAY is the second of two medium-sized 5,600m³ hoppers that Boskalis is having built. Her sister ship, the SHOREWAY, is currently under construction at IHC Beaver Dredgers in Sliedrecht, where she was launched on 17 April of this year.
Both ships are 97.5m long, with a hopper capacity of 5,600m³. They will be used in global Boskalis dredging operations, and they have been specially designed for dredging and the transportation of sand and sludge. They are ideal both for working in shallow waters and for the maintenance of harbours, beach replenishment and land reclamation projects.
The CRESTWAY and SHOREWAY combine a no-nonsense approach to design with a high level of versatility. During the design phase, the emphasis was on keeping the weight of the vessel relatively low, while maximising hopper capacity.
The construction of the CRESTWAY and SHOREWAY fits in with the Boskalis multi-year fleet plans. The programme includes the construction of four trailing suction hopper dredgers varying from 5,600 to 12,000m³, the extension of the QUEEN OF THE NETHERLANDS to transform it into a 35,500m³ mega-hopper, the replacement of the mega-hopper the WD FAIRWAY, the construction of the jumbo cutter suction dredger the PHOENIX, and various other specialist vessels for the energy markets. The ships will go into service between 2007 and 2012.
In addition, Boskalis is making preparations for investments in a new generation of jumbo cutters that will supplement its fleet in the years to come, replacing it in the longer term.
Boskalis Profile
Royal Boskalis Westminster nv is an international group with a leading position in the world market for dredging services. Its core activities are the construction and maintenance of ports and waterways, land reclamation, coastal defence and riverbank protection. The company holds ten home market positions in and outside 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 8,000 employees.
IHC Merwede Profile
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 and complex custom-built offshore vessels. 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 2,200 at its locations in the Netherlands. There are also branches in the UK, China, Houston (USA), India, the Middle East, Russia and Singapore.
Note for the editor, not for publication
For more information please contact:
Royal Boskalis Westminster nv
Mrs. Marielle de Wit
Corporate Relations
T + 3178 69 69 310
m.r.dewit@boskalis.nl
IHC Merwede B.V.
Mrs. Renée van Krimpen-Baudesson
PR & External Communication
T +31 184 41 15 55
M +31 6 22 99 13 29
pr@ihcmerwede.com
www.boskalis.com
www.ihcmerwede.com
www.ihcjobs.nl
Pictures will be available from Monday 19 May under "news" on our website: www.ihcmerwede.com
Additional information
The CRESTWAY is a twin-screw trailing suction hopper dredger. She is equipped with a suction pipe on the port side with an inner diameter of 1,000mm, and can dredge to a maximum depth of 33m.
The maximum hopper capacity is 8,362 tons, and the draught is only 7.10m. The dredged material can be discharged through two rows of rectangular doors in the bottom of the hopper. Other options are the use of the system for pumping the dredged material to the shore through a floating line, or "rainbowing" through a pipe mounted on the bows of the vessel.
The ship has accommodation for a crew of fourteen.
Main features
| Name | CRESTWAY |
| Type | trailing suction hopper dredger |
| Client | Royal Boskalis Westminster nv |
| Builder | IHC Dredgers B.V. |
| Overall length, approximately | 97.50m |
| Length between perpendiculars | 84.95m |
| Breadth | 21.60m |
| Draught at maximum loading capacity | 7.10m |
| Hopper capacity | 5,600m³ |
| Inner diameter suction pipe | 1,000mm |
| Maximum dredging depth | 33m |
| Total installed power | 6,776kW |
| Speed when loaded | 12.8 knots |
| Accommodation | 14 people |
Trailing suction hopper dredger
A dredger used to remove and transport soil from water beds by dragging a long suction tube (2) with a draghead (1) over the bed, loosening the soil in front of the suction head. The material is stored in the hopper (3), which is then discharged through the bottom doors (4), pumped through a floating pipeline, or 'rainbowed' (i.e. discharged through the jet nozzle (5) to a reclamation area.
Specific activities in this field include the construction or deepening of harbours and waterways. The main advantages of this type of vessel are its relative immunity to weather and sea conditions and the ability to transport material over long distances. Furthermore, it can operate independently with hardly any interference to other shipping traffic. A hopper dredger with a hopper capacity of 17,000m³ or more is called a "jumbo" hopper dredger.
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