Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) has ordered a new self-propelled mega cutter from IHC Merwede.
It concerns a sister vessel of the Helios which will be taken into service later this year.
The new vessel will also have a total installed power of 23,700 kW, a pumping capacity of 15,600 kW and a maximum cutter capacity of 7,000 kW. The new cutters can dredge in extremely hard ground at depths ranging from 6 to 35 meters. The new vessel is expected to be commissioned in the course of 2020.
General profile of a cutter suction dredger:
A cutter suction dredger (cutter) is a vessel that dredges while being held into place using spuds and anchors. This technique combines powerful cutting with suction dredging. Cutter suction dredgers are mainly used where the underwater surface is hard and compact. The dredged material is sometimes loaded into barges but is generally pumped to land through a pressure pipeline.
Source: Boskalis