Wartsila DF Engines for DEME

A new generation “Antigoon” class dredger, called “Scheldt River”, being built by Royal IHC (IHC) in the Netherlands on behalf of the Belgium based DEME Group, is to be powered by Wartsila dual-fuel (DF) engines.

This will be the first ever dredger to operate on engines capable of utilizing either liquefied natural gas (LNG) or conventional marine fuels. The contract with Wärtsilä was signed in July.

The 104 meter long vessel will have a hopper volume capacity of approximately 8,000 cubic meters.

The scope of supply includes one 12-cylinder and one 9-cylinder Wartsila 34DF engines, two Wartsila controllable pitch propellers and two transverse thrusters as well as the company’s patented LNGPac gas supply and storage system.

“Environmental considerations are extremely important for every new vessel built today. Operating on LNG allows DEME to set new standards in minimising harmful emissions. “Scheldt River” will easily comply with all local and international environmental regulations. Wartsila’s dual-fuel know-how and in particular the 34DF engine series made our concept feasible,” said Jan Gabriël, Head of New Building and Conversion Department at DEME.

This is the second notable order received by Wartsila in recent weeks for dredger related propulsion solutions.

In June, the company was contracted to supply a comprehensive intergrated solutions package for one of the world’s largest and most advanced self-propelled cutter dredgers currently under construction in China.