Damen Contracts Dredger For Antwerp Super Project
Damen has received the order from SeReAnt to design and construct a special cutter suction dredger for the AMORAS project. The dredger will be a full customer special to fit exactly the intricate dredging and sludge treatment process. Design is now well on its way, the dredger is due to be delivered in September 2010 – exactly in time to fit in to the tight AMORAS time schedule. Damen is of course known for its standard cutter suction dredger range. Yet, this dredger is far from standard: the cutter suction dredger is fully adapted to feed the continuous process resulting in 500.000 tons of treated dry material every year. AMORAS being an environmental project, the cutter suction dredger is fully electrically driven – the required power is some 1.800 kVa, 15.75 kV. The dredger is fitted out with a swing ladder, cleaning the under water depot at -18 m dredging depth and a maximum swing width of 24 m. As the contamination of some silt is such that it cannot be deposited in the depot, a barge unloader is a vital element of the dredger- pumping the heavily contaminated material directly to shore by the inboard dredge pump.
Manoeuvring of the dredger, measuring some 34 m by 9.5 m, is done by 4 spud poles, of which 2 are integrated in a spud carriage – all to ensure a continuous and smooth process. The spud carriage cylinders, winches as well as the cutter are hydraulically driven. Both in board Damen dredge pumps, type BP45-1100 doing 3.000 m3/h of mixture each, are electrically driven. They work on a 450 mm diameter discharge line of 300 m length connecting to the sand separation plant. As the spacious operating cabin is situated on top of the accommodation, it has excellent view on the decks and the job site. The accommodation houses a galley, a seating area and a sanitary space.
The contract between Damen and SeReAnt was signed this autumn, and the dredger is now on the drawing boards. Due to the tight delivery schedule construction has started already. Damen Dredging Equipment will manufacture components and the entire dredger will be finished at another Damen yard. It is due to be delivered in September 2010. By then the many other civil constructions at the AMORAS site will be finished, so that the entire plant will be up and running at the end of 2010.