(With video) IHC Merwede has named and launched the 5500 m³ trailing suction hopper dredger, DCI Dredge XXI at the company's shipyard in Kinderdijk, the Netherlands.
It is building the innovative vessel for the Dredging Corporation of India Ltd (DCI). The ceremony took place 8 August and was performed by Mrs R Mohanty, the spouse of DCI Chairman and Managing Director Captain DK Mohanty.
Series of Three Dredgers
The DCI Dredge XXI is the third vessel in a series of three dredgers – including the DCI Dredge XIX and XX – and is being constructed under the dual classes of Lloyd's Register and Indian Register of Shipping. IHC Merwede has previously supplied ten vessels to DCI, having been selected as a preferred supplier.
Hooghly River
The vessel will be deployed – along with the DCI Dredge XIX and XX – for the maintenance-dredging project on the Hooghly River, which is a tributary of the Ganges River in West Bengal. These new DCI vessels are specially designed for this task, taking into account the Hooghly River's soil properties, strong current and shallow depth.
The DCI Dredge XXI will be delivered in the first quarter of 2014.
Particulars of the DCI Dredge XXI
- Name: DCI Dredge XXI
- Type: Trailing suction hopper dredger
- Customer: Dredging Corporation of India Ltd
- Builder: IHC Dredgers BV
- Length overall: 114m
- Breadth: 21.3m
- Depth: 7.5m
- Draught (operational): 7.2m
- Draught: 6.5m
- Dredging depth: 25m
- Hopper capacity: 5,500m3
- Suction pipe diameter: 2 x 700mm
- Speed: 14.1 knots
- Accommodation: 35 people
