At the Damen Dredging yard in the Netherlands, representatives of Metalkol have completed the technical inspection of their newly acquired Cutter Suction Dredger (CSD) 500. Following extensive inspections and testing, the customised CSD was approved for delivery.
After transport to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the dredger will begin work in a mining operation.
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Customised CSD500
Prior to acceptance, Damen configured the standard stock CSD500 to meet the specific requirements of the project using a range of proven Damen options. These include anchor booms for swing anchor handling and a spud carriage pontoon to increase the dredger’s swing width. In addition, Damen provided an extended dredging depth capability of -16 metres, a vacuum relief valve, a discharge valve and a package of dredging instrumentation.
‘Our client required a state-of-the-art dredger suited to a remote location and high levels of uptime,’ explains Frederick Vandepitte, Damen Regional Director. ‘We enjoyed a number of fruitful discussions as we worked towards a suitable solution that incorporated the requirements of the operations team. We are pleased that, due to our stock building programme, we have been able to fully customise the CSD within a few weeks of the order.’
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Modular dredger
Following the acceptance, Damen prepares the CSD500 for transportation to Africa. In line with Damen’s modular dredger concept, the vessel is disassembled into modules. This allows for efficient transport by road and water, as well as assembly at the mining site.
Picture: The CSD500 is customised for a maximum dredging depth of 16 metres (photo by Damen Shipyards).
