China: TSHD “Chang Jiang Kou 02” Launched

The naming and launch ceremony for the 12,000m³ trailing suction hopper dredger, CHANG JIANG KOU 02, took place today at the Daoda Heavy Industry shipyard in Qidong, China. IHC Merwede is building the impressive vessel for Yangtze Estuary Waterway Administration Bureau MOT, which is based in the People’s Republic of China. It is the duplicate of the CHANG JIANG KOU 01 which was launched last year at IHC Merwede’s Kinderdijk shipyard.

The ceremony was performed by Mr Fan Yaxiang, the Party Secretary of Yangtze Estuary Waterway Administration Bureau MOT. The contract for the design, construction and delivery of two 12,000m³ trailing suction hopper dredgers (CHANG JIANG KOU 01 and CHANG JIANG KOU 02) was signed between Yangtze Estuary Waterway Administration Bureau MOT and IHC Dredgers in July 2008. The keel for CHANG JIANG KOU 02 was laid on 15 December 2010 and the vessel will be delivered in the first quarter of 2013.

Overall the work in progress means that the ship is on schedule. This demonstrates the reliability of IHC Merwede and its partner in China, regarding international production. Both ships, named after the mouth of the Yangtze River, have been specifically designed with the high-current velocity and soil properties of the River in mind. This is one of the reasons why the vessels will be equipped with the patented IHC Merwede Wild Dragon® draghead. The vessels will carry out maintenance dredging jobs over a distance of 122km.

Additional information

Main features

Name – CHANG JIANG KOU 02

Type – Trailing suction hopper dredger

Customer – Yangtze Estuary Waterway Administration

Bureau – MOT

Builder – IHC Dredgers B.V.

Length overall – 132m

Breadth – 27.3m

Depth – 10m

Draught – 8.37m

Dredging depth – 25m

Hopper capacity – 12,000m³

Suction pipe diameter – 2 x 1,000mm

Speed – 15 knots

Accommodation – 37 people.

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, February 22, 2012; Image: IHC Merwede