With a two-day event on the quay of the Biesboschhaven Zuid harbour in Werkendam, Van Oord launched its first
LNG-powered vessel: the Werkendam.
Because of Van Oord’s 150th anniversary, this event took place in Werkendam, the cradle of the company. On Friday 13 April, school children from the surrounding area were given a guided tour of the new crane vessel. Business relations were also welcomed on board during a special network meeting.
On Saturday 14 April, the naming ceremony was held. In the presence of guests and staff, the vessel was named by Pia van Oord. She is the wife of Govert van Oord, who is the grandson of forefather Govert van Oord, who, as an entrepreneur, laid the foundations of the current Van Oord in 1868. To mark the 150th anniversary, a statue was also unveiled on the same day on the Sasdijk dyke in Werkendam. This bronze statue of a local worker (“Griendwerker”) was created by artist Jaap Hartman.
Werkendam
The Werkendam crane vessel is an exceptional part of the Van Oord fleet. It is the first LNG-powered vessel and is therefore the start of a new generation of dredging vessels. The Werkendam was built at the Neptune yard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam. Construction of the 68 m long and over 11 m wide crane vessel took 12 months.
The vessel is fully powered by LNG, with gas oil as a back-up. With the storage tank on the aft deck, the Werkendam can store enough LNG on board to sail and operate for fourteen days without having to refuel. In comparison with diesel, LNG emits 80% less particulate matter and 70% less nitrous oxide. A CO2 reduction of 25% is also achieved.
The crane vessel will be used mainly for the execution of Dutch projects of the subsidiary Paans Van Oord. The first job for the Werkendam will be maintenance dredging and revetment works in the Rotterdam Europahaven.
