TSHD River Thames busy in Africa

DEME’s latest addition to the dredging fleet is already at work on the African continent.

The 2,500m3 trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) ‘River Thames’ has been mobilised in Cotonou, Benin, where she carried out some dredging trials before heading to Gabon, informs the company.

DEME also added that in Gabon ‘River Thames’ will be busy dredging a port terminal. Following the completion, she will head out straight to Guinea for a maintenance dredging campaign.

As well as larger TSHDs, DEME has reinforced its smaller-sized hopper fleet with the addition of ‘River Thames’.

The compact vessel, with a small draught and high manoeuvrability, is perfect for dredging in shallow waters and to maintain sea and inland waterways.

The ‘River Thames’, designed and build by Royal IHC, was handed over to DEME in April 2020.

The vessel is the first of two new trailing suction hopper dredgers that will join DEME’s fleet in 2020.