Work Progresses on Electrical Conversion of TSHD Samuel de Champlain

Alewijnse Marine has entered a new phase in the electrical conversion of the 8.500m³ trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) Samuel de Champlain.

After months of engineering and a study of the potential harmonics pollution in preparation for the electrical conversion, the company has started work on board the vessel at Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque, where the ship arrived during the last month.

Samuel de Champlain is being converted from diesel-electric propulsion burning MGO to dual-fuel capability combining LNG and MGO, and this will be the first conversion of its kind to take place on a dredger in Europe.

The vessel is a 117 meter long TSHD, owned by GIE Dragages-Ports, based in Saint-Nazaire, France and operated by the port of Nantes-Saint-Nazaire.

“The works will include the installation of two LNG tanks on the hopper deck and the replacement of the three existing diesel generator sets, two main and one auxiliary, with three dual-fuel generator sets. At the same time, the electrical distribution, command & control and security systems will all be upgraded. The machinery spaces, the cooling systems and various piping will also require extensive modifications,” according to an official announcement.

The works on board started in October and are expected to take about one hundred days, said Alewijnse.