Damen to build TSHD to operate in Australia

The TSHD will be the first Damen dredger of this type to operate in Australia.
Gippsland Ports put the project out to tender in 2014. Following evaluation of proposals in December 2015, Damen was awarded the construction contract. The type TSHD 650 vessel is currently under construction at Damen Yichang Shipyard in China and will be delivered in the third quarter of 2017. The client specified the installation of an antiturbidity valve on the overflow for dredging in environmentally sensitive waters. This reduces air bubbles and so water clouding. Capable of dredging to depths of 15m, the vessel will be built with self-emptying capabilities, with bottom doors for dumping and is equipped for beach reclamation work. In order to increase the vessel’s payload capacity when dredging sand with a high specific density, Damen will reduce the freeboard of the vessel and apply a dredge mark.