D
amen Shipyards Group recently unveiled a new
line of Trailing Suction Hopper Dredgers (TSHD).
The new product range, comprising of the Marine
Aggregate Dredger (MAD) 4000 and 5600 vessels, was
introduced in response to extensive market research and
customer consultation. The MAD vessels are potentially
important to an aggregate industry that, today, faces rising
demand and an aging fl eet. Designed in collaboration with
Maritime Design and Engineering Services (MD&ES), the
MAD 4000 and 5600 are welcome additions to Damen’s
Trailing Suction Hopper Dredging portfolio. For offshore
aggregate operations, the new vessels will be able to work
in North Sea conditions up to depths of -60 meters. These
capabilities allow operators to mine sand and gravel in
deeper waters, farther from shore than preceding models.
Damen invested considerably in research and develop-
ment for the new MAD vessels, having observed an increase
in demand for civil construction supplies deriving from an
overall improving economy. The development aims at of-
fering industry advanced technology, well suited to existing
ports and delivering more uptime at sea. Specifi cally, Damen
tailored the technical specifi cations of the designs in line with
the port infrastructure in the region in which the dredgers
will operate. Beyond this, close attention was paid to sea-
keeping behavior in order to ensure the vessels can operate
comfortably and safely, even in harsh weather conditions.
Notably, and unlike traditional dredgers, the bow shape
of the MAD vessels allows them to operate in adverse
weather conditions. The shape – like many other efforts
from this builder – is based on a proven Damen design
applied to renowned vessels such as the Damen Offshore
Carrier (DOC) and Platform Supply Vessel (PSV). In addi-
tion to improved seakeeping behavior, the bow shape also
protects the sand and gravel cargo from green water ingress.The MAD vessels have been developed with tomorrow in
mind, featuring Tier III engines and, requiring no ballast wa-
ter, fully compliant with the latest IMO regulations. That the
design also takes into account the possible future requirement
for advanced automation. Close attention has also been paid
to incorporating the most robust equipment for operations
in harsh environments. A submerged, wear-resistant Damen
dredge pump facilitates the loading of sand and gravel aboard
the vessel. Once onboard, the aggregate then passes through
the heavy-duty dredgers’ screening towers, where giant sieves
allow for a better assessment and classifi cation of the mined
material. Following this, it is stored and de-watered in the
vessel’s hopper – with a capacity of either 4,000 or 5,600
m3 – hence the categorization of the two types of MAD. The
operation is supported by state-of-the-art, optimized instru-
mentation, offering feedback throughout the entire process.
Upon arrival to port, the vessels’ fully automated clamshell
system unloads the material onto a conveyer belt. The system
conceived of by the design is a fl exible one, suitable for use
in varying locations. According to Damen, the vessel design
allows users to do almost everything within the broad dredg-
ing mission. Operators can go out, get the material, classify
it, dry it and deliver it to location. Damen bills the vessel as
the fi rst standardized design in the world with such a scope.
Like all Damen ‘stock’ hulls, the standardized design is
also versatile and takes into account the need for custom-
ization and multi-role functionality. Myriad options exist
in order to cater to differing client needs. The vessel can be
supplied with bottom doors if required – which will offer
additional versatility in case it is required to perform differ-
ing operations. It can also receive spud poles, for example.
And, should the client wish to scale up at any point, the
MAD 4,000 can easily be converted into a MAD 5,600
with a simple section addition. http://www.damen.comBOAT OF THE MONTH
Damen’s All Damen’s All
New Marine New Marine
Aggregate Aggregate
Dredger Dredger
52 MN February 2017