Busy Start for Largest Damen Hopper Dredger

The delivery in early May of Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) Barito Equator demonstrates how Indonesia’s developing maritime industry is building ever more complex vessels.

The 2,500 m3 capacity Damen TSHD 2500 is the first of its kind built in Indonesia and also the largest Damen standard hopper dredger built to date.

For Indonesian dredging company Pelayaran Fortuna Nusantara Megajaya (PFNM), the proven reliability of Damen’s design will be a key asset in maintaining economically vital cargo transport on the Barito River on the island of Borneo.

Immediately after delivery, Barito Equator started on maintenance dredging on the 890-kilometer long Barito River in South Kalimantan. Indonesia has invested large sums in capital projects to improve navigability on the waterway – a key cargo and transport link.

The river is prone to heavy siltation, which, combined with the extreme environmental conditions during dredging operations, demands highly reliable and efficient equipment.

Building on the Equator

Last October the launching and naming of Barito Equator took place at Indonesian shipyard Steadfast Marine, which is located in Pontianak of West Kalimantan, the City of Equator of Indonesia.

The local yard has helped advance Indonesia’s maritime ambitions through transfer of technology during the complex build with Damen Shipyards Group.

The build took place with assistance from Damen Technical Cooperation (DTC), engineering from Damen Shipyards Gorinchem and the complete trailing dredging system from Damen Dredging Equipment. Damen Marine Components delivered the rudder installation and gearbox as well as a host of other components.

“This is the first Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger ever built in Indonesia,” said Gysbert Boersma, ‎Sales Manager Asia-Pacific at Damen Shipyards Group. “It is a huge accomplishment that wouldn’t be possible without strong local partnerships. Damen has considerable experience in building Damen-designed vessels in all parts of the world. We’re proud knowing that Barito Equator, built in Kalimantan, will help ensure South Kalimantan’s continued economic development for many years to come.”

With an overall length of 80.35 metres, the TSHD 2500 has a trailing dredging depth of 22 metres with 750 mm dredging pipe. Discharge is via bottom doors and bow coupling.