Dutch yard secures new orders

The latest projects agreed and confirmed by IHC Merwede include a second self-propelled cutter suction dredger for marine contractor Van Oord. Measuring 130m in length and with an installed capacity of 24,650kW, this vessel will become one of the most modern and powerful self-propelled cutter suction dredgers in the world.

In addition, the company has sold a self-elevating platform for placing wind turbines to GeoSea NV, the offshore arm of the Belgian DEME Group. It has also sold various larger IHC Beaver cutter suction dredgers to customers worldwide.

Furthermore, Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone Ltd., part of the Adani Group Mundra in India, has ordered a 13,000kW stationary cutter suction dredger. An IHC Beaver 5514 C will be built for operation in Iraq, in addition to a 3,500m3 trailing suction hopper dredger and a 500m3 grab hopper. An IHC Beaver 40 will also be deployed in Nigeria.

IHC Merwede’s President Govert Hamers says, “These recent valuable projects are again in

line with our outlook for 2010. Our order intake for this year is as planned and well above one billion Euros. The market in which we operate is showing clear signs of recovery. Our sales in the dredging segment worldwide are particularly strong, and the offshore market is clearly growing too. In addition, the mining market is becoming increasingly important – both dredge mining and deep-sea mining will be significant for future revenue.”