Royal IHC and La Congolaise des Voies Maritimes (CVM) have signed a contract for the delivery of an Easydredge 2700XL trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD). The vessel will be customised to meet CVM’s specific operational needs.
Customised features include greater autonomy, upgraded bow thruster and propulsion power, expanded accommodation, and advanced automation systems to optimise performance in challenging riverine conditions.
Royal IHC will deliver a comprehensive service package to support CVM throughout the first year of operation, including planned maintenance software, technical support, experienced crewing, and operational training. This is to ensure optimal performance from day one.
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Built in Vietnam
The TSHD will be built at IHC’s partner yard Nam Trieu in Vietnam, as part of the company’s shipbuilding strategy of offering customers a wider range of choices, with the same reliability and quality level.
The Easydredge 2700XL is part of Royal IHC’s proven range of standardised hopper dredgers, designed to combine cost-efficiency, adaptability, and ease of operation. With a hopper capacity of approximately 3300 m3, the vessel is tailored for maintenance dredging and land reclamation projects, offering a robust and versatile solution for La Congolaise des Voies Maritimes.
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Navigability along the Congo River
‘This new vessel is essential in maintaining navigability along the Congo River, ensuring that we keep the strategic ports of Boma and Matadi accessible. This step sends a strong signal to the maritime operators involved in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s international trade, who will now have the opportunity to conduct their business in an environment that offers all the necessary advantages,’ says Jeanne Blandine Kawanda Walwom, Director General of CVM.
Bert Jan ter Riet, COO of Royal IHC: ‘This contract underscores Royal IHC’s commitment to strengthening local dredging capacity within the region. It also fits our strategy for Africa, where we see ports striving for autonomy and a rising interest in dredging.’
Image by Royal IHC.
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