Naming of THSD Gateway
Saturday 26 September 2009 witnessed the naming and launch of the Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (THSD) Gateway at the IHC Merwede Offshore & Marine yard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, the Netherlands on. 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. The 12,000 m³ vessel was designed by IHC Merwede Offshore & Marine in close collaboration with the owner of the vessel, Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. During the design phase, the emphasis was primarily on keeping the weight of the vessel relatively low, while maximizing hopper capacity. The Gateway has a single suction pipe with an underwater pump, allowing it to dredge to a depth of 62 m. 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. Furthemore, the ship has a high pump capacity so that it can transport large volumes over a considerable distance. Completion is planned for the first quarter of 2010.
