The Netherlands: IHC Merwede Secures New Orders for Advanced Vessels and Equipment

IHC Merwede has announced that it has recently secured orders for advanced vessels and equipment in its core markets of dredging and offshore to the value of €200million. The latest agreements confirmed by IHC Merwede include: a new pipelaying vessel for Subsea 7; an engineering and components package for the build of a trailing suction hopper dredger with BAE Systems (USA); an environmentally friendly deep-water dredger for Zheijang Dredging (China); and a 5,000-tonne capacity carousel-lay system for Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. These orders further reinforce the group’s belief that there will be continued demand for its innovative vessels, advanced equipment and life-cycle support in the future.

IHC Merwede’s assignment with Subsea 7 is for the design, engineering and construction of a new advanced pipelaying vessel, which will have an overall length of 146 metres, a beam of 30 metres and a Class-2 dynamic positioning system. Subsea 7 has selected IHC Merwede due to its reliability and efficiency with four previous orders. This latest vessel will be used to develop deep-sea oilfields off the coast of Brazil on behalf of Petrobras. In addition, IHC Merwede has been successful in securing an agreement for an engineering and components package with BAE Systems, which has been contracted to build a 6,540m3 trailing suction hopper dredger for Weeks Marine, Inc., USA. IHC Merwede earlier supplied the basic design of the vessel – which will have a length of 109 metres and a beam of 24 metres – to Weeks Marine, Inc. This important landmark has highlighted IHC Merwede’s ongoing strategy of internationalisation.

Furthermore, Chinese company, Zheijang Dredging, has ordered an advanced environmentally friendly deep-water dredging vessel. This innovative cutter suction dredger will be optimised to work in polluted lake and reservoir dredging projects, and is unique in its class. The Beaver® 4040 is the first cutter suction dredger designed for sustainable dredging to a depth of 40 metres. This eco-friendly dredger will be built at the components factory of IHC China Support in Guangzhou.

Some of IHC Merwede’s business units have also acquired orders for specialist equipment, including a carousel-lay system for Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. The carousel features the IHC Engineering Business advanced hydraulic roller suspension system to increase reliability, reduce life-cycle costs and extend the lifetime of the system. The equipment will be manufactured, assembled and tested in IHC China Support’s components factory in Guangzou.

IHC Merwede’s President Govert Hamers says, “The recent successes in developing our business show that IHC Merwede’s reputation as the technology innovator remains intact. Our customers continue to value the reliability and efficiency of our products and services. With these orders in place, IHC Merwede is already on track to achieve its sales targets for this year.”.

Company profile IHC Merwede

IHC Merwede is focussed on the continuous development of design and construction activities for the specialist maritime sector. It is the global market leader for efficient dredging and mining vessels and equipment – with vast experience accumulated over decades – and a reliable supplier of custom-built ships and supplies for offshore construction.

IHC Merwede has in-house expertise for engineering and manufacturing innovative vessels and advanced equipment, as well as providing life-cycle support. Its integrated systematic approach has helped to develop optimum product performance and long-term business partnerships.

The company’s broad customer base includes dredging operators, oil and gas corporations, offshore contractors and government authorities. IHC Merwede has over 3,000 employees based at various locations in The Netherlands, China, Croatia, France, India, the Middle East, Nigeria, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Technological innovation will remain the company’s underlying strength through its continuous investment in research and development. Moreover, it helps to safeguard a sustainable environment.

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Dredging Today Staff, December 14, 2011; Image: ihcmerwede