Wartsila Engines and Propulsion for the World’s Most Powerful CSD

Wartsila has been contracted to supply a comprehensive package of engines and propulsion machinery for a new cutter suction dredger (CSD) vessel.

When delivered, the ‘Spartacus’, which is being built on behalf of Belgium based Dredging International (DEME), will be the world’s most powerful CSD and the first ever to be fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The dredger is being built at the Royal IHC yard in the Netherlands.

The order with Wartsila, worth around EUR20 million, was booked in the fourth quarter of 2016.

The 164 meter long vessel will have a total installed power of 44,180 kW and will feature four 9-cylinder Wartsila 46DF dual-fuel engines, two 8-cylinder Wartsila 20DF dual-fuel engines and a Wartsila LNGPac fuel gas storage and supply system with a newly designed bilobe tank arrangement.

Wartsila will also supply two fixed pitch propellers with shaft assemblies and HP nozzles, and two tunnel thrusters, as well as commissioning, site supervision and extended project management services. The Wartsila equipment is scheduled for delivery to the yard during the fourth quarter of 2017.

“Wartsila has worked in close cooperation with the owners starting from the early stages of this large project. This has enabled a well engineered and fully integrated propulsion arrangement, and an LNG fuel system that is optimised for the needs of the vessel,” said Arthur Boogaard, General Manager, Business Development Special Vessels at Wartsila.

“Wartsila has provided excellent support throughout the design phase, and we are confident that this results in a highly efficient CSD with lower operating costs than would have been otherwise possible. We are very aware of our environmental responsibilities, and for this reason we have opted for Wartsila dual-fuel engines running on clean burning LNG fuel,” added Jan Gabriel, Head of newbuilding and conversion department at DEME.

The ‘Spartacus’ is expected to be delivered to the customer in mid-2019 and will operate in different locations around the world.

CSDs are able to dredge nearly all kinds of soils, including sand, clay and rock. They are used wherever the ground is too hard for conventional dredgers to operate.