New dredger for Jan De Nul

Launched at Croatian shipyard Uljanik Brodogradiliste, the vessel is designed to be used for a range of projects including installing subsea cables, trench dredging and subsea rock installation.

In cable-installation mode, Isaac Newton will be capable of transporting and laying cable in a single length with a total weight of approximately 10,000 tonnes, which is more than any other vessel currently available.

Jan De Nul says the new multipurpose vessel will enable it to better meet clients’ requests to have a project executed by one contractor or one vessel and to reduce the mobilisation costs for its clients.

Elsewhere, the company has ordered a large self-propelled cutter suction dredger JDN8069 with the same shipyard. Designed by Jan De Nul’s in-house design department, the vessel will feature seven large self-propelled cutter suction dredgers.

The total installed diesel power will be over 40.000 kW, which is approximately 50% more powerful than the copmany’s J.F.J. De Nul, currently the largest cutter suction dredger in the world. The cutter power amounts to 8,500 kW and the cutter ladder weighs around 2,000 tonnes, making it the “ultimate tool for dredging hard rock”.