Damen launches its first Middle East-built CSD

A cutter suction dredger (CSD) 650 was successfully launched at Albwardy Damen earlier this week.

This modularly built dredger is the first CSD650 to be built at this yard. Usually, the yard is active in ship repair including dry dockings as well as newbuilds of other vessel types.

The CSD650 is a standard suction dredger, built for replenishing stock. Usually, these large dredgers are built at the Damen Dredging Equipment yard in Nijkerk, the Netherlands.

This dredger was built in the Middle East to ensure short lead times and low transport costs for the local market. The dredger has been launched completely fitted out, and will now undergo a testing program. It will be ready for delivery January 2020.

The CSD650 is a 535 ton construction, with an overall length – including spud carriage – of 61.2m. This results in an impressive swing width of 63m. The suction dredger is equipped with a powerful 700 kW cutter head, made for dredging at a max dredging depth of -18.

The dredger is fitted out with an inboard dredge pump located in a separate pump room. The total installed power of the CSD650 is 2,972 kW. The high efficiency dredger has an mixture production of some 7,000 m³/h.

The construction of the CSD650 at the Albwardy Damen yard is a logical step. The yard has been building Damen CSD500 for the past 12 years. Moreover, it is the Damen Service Hub in the region.

As a result, the yard has developed a lot of knowledge on boosters, DOP dredge pumps – and cutter suction dredgers. All dredgers delivered to customers in the Middle East are receiving full after-sales support from the local hub.

Recently, Albwardy Damen has finished the construction of two other dredgers, both of the type CSD500. These dredgers have a max dredging depth of -14m, and a mixture pumping capacity of 4,000 m³/h. Both have been fully tested and are available on location.

For all dredgers customer finance can be provided, Damen said.