Nineteen months after the contract was awarded, Europe’s first conversion of a dredger to dual-fuel capability combining LNG and MGO is close to completion. This is the first conversion of its kind to take place in Europe.
Damen has delivered a turnkey package that included engineering, procurement and support. The previous propulsion system of Dragages-Ports’ Samuel de Champlain was diesel-electric burning MGO, and so the contract included the change of generators to dual-fuel models and the installation of on board LNG storage facilities.
Challenges
The project was a complex one and not without its challenges. A decision to change the engine manufacturer once the project was underway required a fresh approach to their integration, and the interfacing of all the main systems with the new propulsion plant plus the extensive pipe works required meticulous planning and careful execution.
Opening up New Possibilities
'The Samuel de Champlain conversion has been the subject of much interest within the dredging industry and the maritime industry in general,' says Fabien Guillemot, Commercial Manager at Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque.
'LNG isn’t new, of course, but this ground-breaking conversion of an existing vessel opens up new possibilities for everyone. With environmental regulations set to tighten ever further in the foreseeable future, the success of this project is evidence for owners of ships operating in coastal waters and emission control areas that there is an alternative to scrapping old vessels and building a new one.'
Loire and Seine
Following its final commissioning, the Samuel de Champlain will return to its regular duties of dredging the Loire and Seine rivers.
EU-supported Initiative
The conversion has been part of an EU-supported initiative to promote LNG propulsion in short-sea vessels operating along the European Atlantic coast. Visit www.samuelng.eu for more information.
