Royal IHC to Launch TSHD ‘ILEMBE’ on May 9

Royal IHC will hold naming and launch ceremony of the new trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) ILEMBE at its shipyard in Kinderdijk on Saturday, 9 May, 2015.

Designed and constructed for Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), the 5,500m3 capacity vessel will be the largest dredging vessel of its kind in South Africa.

The new dredger will join TNPA’s existing fleet of IHC Merwede-built vessels which features the 4,200m3 TSHD ISANDLWANA (ordered in 2008) and the grab hopper dredger ITALENI (ordered in 2013).

According to the IHC, the new dredger will be equipped with the most advanced dredging technology available in the world today – the automation system (DCS or Dredge Control System) which is of the latest standards within IHC Systems including trail speed controller, Dredge track presentation system and ECO Pump Control.

As part of the contract with TNPA, IHC will execute a supplier development plan in order to help improve local industry in South Africa.

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