Cutter suction dredger "Zheng He" launched

"Zheng He" is a sister vessel of the "Ibn Battuta", launched in August 2009, and is the 2nd in row of four large self-propelled cutter suction dredgers with a total installed diesel power of 23,520 kW built by this shipyard in Pula. The other two of this class of cutter suction dredgers are the "Fernão de Magalhães" and the "JDN8067". All four are part of the Jan De Nul Group‘s ambitious investment program 2007-2011 worth 1.8 billion Euro. That same day, the keel laying of the sister vessel "Fernão de Magalhães" was celebrated. The keel laying marks the beginning of the construction of the vessel.

The delivery of  "Zheng He" is foreseen in the course of 2010. The "Fernão de Magalhães" and the "JDN8067" will be constructed in the course of 2010-2011.

Investment Program 2007-2011 worth 1.8 billion Euro
Jan De Nul‘s dredging fleet is the most modern and most diverse in the world. The company policy focuses on investing in new vessels and equipment and on the use of innovative and modern technology. To be able to meet the growing demand, Jan De Nul Group continues to invest in the expansion of its fleet. The Group‘s own Design and Engineering division designs new vessels in house, which are then built in various shipyards all over the world. Jan De Nul Group also delivers the required specific dredging equipment to the shipyard, which is a unique feature in the dredging industry. This dredging equipment is designed and engineered within the company and then fabricated and assembled in the Company‘s workshops in Aalst. Thanks to an investment programme of 1.8 billion Euro (covering a period up to 2011) the fleet now consisting of 42 vessels which will be expanded with another 20 new vessels.