LNG dual-fuel dredger delivered to Van Oord
The dual-fuel LNG dredger Vox Apolonia is identical to the first dredger, Vox Ariane, delivered earlier this year. Christening of the vessel is planned in March 2023 in Rotterdam. A third dredger, Vox Alexia, is on track for delivery in 2023.
The vessels have a hopper capacity of approximately 10,500 cubic metres and measure 138 metres in length and 28 metres across the beam.
Built to the requirements of the IMO’s Tier III regulations, the Dutch flagged Vox Apolonia, like the Vox Ariane, has obtained the Green Passport and Clean Ship Notation by Bureau Veritas.
Van Oord says the three new LNG dredgers have a significantly lower carbon footprint than conventional trailing suction hopper dredgers. NOx and particulate emissions are also minimal with this new generation of ships.
The Vox Apolonia is equipped with a high degree of automation for its marine and dredging systems, as well as an onboard data acquisition and integrated control system to enhance efficiency and operational cost savings. The dredger has one suction pipe with a submerged e-driven dredge pump, two shore discharge dredge pumps, five bottom doors, a total installed power of 14,500 kW, and can accommodate 22 persons.
The three vessels will replace existing trailing suction hopper dredgers and help Van Oord accomplish the aim of modernising its fleet and making it more energy efficient.
Maarten Sanders, Manager Newbuilding of Van Oord, said: “Van Oord is committed to lowering its impact on climate change by reducing its emissions and becoming net-zero. We can make most progress by investing in the decarbonisation of our vessels, since approximately 95% of Van Oord’s carbon footprint is linked to its fleet. The delivery of the Vox Apolonia is another important milestone in this process. In the designing the new LNG hoppers, we focused on reducing our carbon footprint and working more efficiently by reusing energy and making optimal use of the automated systems in combination with electrical drives.”
