Royal IHC to Build World’s Largest LNG Cutter Suction Dredger

Royal IHC (IHC) has been awarded a contract for the design, construction and delivery of an LNG-powered self-propelled cutter suction dredger (CSD) for DEME in Belgium. The newly built CSD will be 538 feet long. The concept and basic design for this mega cutter was done in close cooperation with DEME, Vuyk Engineering Rotterdam and IHC.

The new vessel SPARTACUS will be the world’s first LNG-powered CSD and follows the order for the first LNG-powered trailing suction hopper dredgers (TSHDs) MINERVA and SCHELDT RIVER, and ‘LNG-ready’ BONNY RIVER, that are currently under construction at IHC’s shipyards.

This environmentally-friendly CSD will also have other innovations on board, such as a waste heat recovery system that converts heat from the exhaust gasses to electrical energy. The dredge control is arranged for a one-man operation. The vessel will have a heavy duty cutter ladder and can reach a dredging depth of 150 feet.