DEME: Maintenance dredging on the Scheldt powered by LNG

DEME’s dual fuel trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) ‘Scheldt River’ is currently conducting maintenance dredging operations on the Scheldt and during this work, the vessel is operating on LNG.

Last week, the TSHD became the first dredger to be bunkered with LNG in the Port of Antwerp, near the Kallo lock. 

The dredging work is being carried out on behalf of the Flemish government and is necessary to ensure the port’s maritime accessibility, said DEME in their latest announcement.

For several years now, DEME has been investing heavily in eco-friendly, energy-saving technology to reduce emissions from its vessels. It is also testing the possibilities of emission-free fuels such as green methanol and green hydrogen.

“Low-emission operations are the new benchmark for maintenance dredging on the Scheldt. Through its ongoing investment in new technologies, DEME aims to maintain its leading position in the transition to alternative fuels in the dredging industry,” said Luc Vandenbulcke, CEO of DEME Group.

“With our new vessels, we don’t want to merely meet changing environmental standards, we want to exceed them. We want to stay one step ahead of the regulations in order to make the maintenance of our ports and their access channels more sustainable – a requirement that is even more important when we are working in densely populated regions and near Natura 2000 areas.”

The maintenance dredging work on the Scheldt is being performed on behalf of the Department of Mobility and Public Works.