On 3 August, Royal IHC transferred cutter suction dredger SPARTACUS to DEME. With the signing of the hand over, the construction process officially comes to an end and the ship can now be implemented for use on her first job.
The SPARTACUS sets a new benchmark in the global dredging market. Its ground breaking, eco-friendly design and countless innovations on board make it the only one of its kind. The SPARTACUS is the world's largest self- propelled cutter suction dredger and the first to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The four main engines can run on LNG, MDO and HFO, and the two auxiliary engines have dual-fuel technology. With 44,180 kilowatts, the SPARTACUS is the most powerful CSD in the DEME fleet, and the strongest cutter suction dredger in the world, capable of handling even the most challenging rocky bottom formations.
The heavy cutter ladder, able to be controlled and operated from the bridge by a single person, can operate up to a dredging depth of 45 m. The ship also has a waste heat recovery system that converts heat from the exhaust gases into electrical energy.
CSD SPARTACUS will set sail to its first assignment, the Abu Qir project in Egypt. This vast greenfield project includes the reclamation of 1,000 hectares of new land, the deepening of the port’s approach channel to 23 m and the dredging of a turning basin to 22 m.
Luc Vandenbulcke, CEO DEME Group: “SPARTACUS not only sets new standards in the dredging sector, this extraordinary vessel highlights DEME’s continual drive to pioneer, innovate and create opportunities. This willingness to keep pushing the boundaries and invest in our fleet, means that projects that were unfeasible before are now possible with ‘Spartacus’. I sincerely congratulate all teams involved for their commitment and relentless pursuit of excellence during this challenging construction process.”
Gerben Eggink, CEO Royal IHC: “SPARTACUS has been one of the most challenging projects Royal IHC has ever undertaken Now that it has been completed and we can hand over the SPARTACUS to DEME, we are very proud of this ship. I would like to thank DEME for the good cooperation between our two companies and compliment the teams of both DEME and Royal IHC for the exceptional perseverance they have shown.” Gerben Eggink continues: “We are confident to have delivered DEME a ship that is ready to take on any challenge and with which many progressive projects can be carried out.”