Smart diesel-electric dredger for EU ports

The vessel, built by Thecla Bodwewes (TB) Barkmeijer Shipyard in the Netherland, is operated by the Zealand based company De Hoop Terneuzen, a major supplier of building materials in Holland and Belgium.

Energy efficiency

The design brief for the dredger was rather comprehensive. Without limits to the navigation area, the design had to be able to dredge sand and gravel up to a depth of 60 metres, screening this to the required grain size and dry discharge to shore in ports with a great variety in receiving facilities.

An extensive study of the ports in Northwestern European mainland and the UK considering limitations in length, beam, water depth, air draught and port facilities made for an optimised design.

‘Anchorage’ is equipped with a smart diesel-electric system, developed in close collaboration between Barkmeijer Shipyards and D&A Electric, that efficiently regulates the energy supply for sailing, dredging and unloading the ship.

The use of the E-prop electric propulsion increases the overall propeller efficiency, where, as a result, energy and fuel consumption is optimised and the ship’s emissions are greatly reduced.

The dredger is powered by three Mitsubishi SU medium speed diesel generator sets. Two of 2550 eKW each and one of 1275 eKW. The gensets are able to run all three parallel, or twin, or single, depending on the required power for each specific operation ensuring the most efficient load which results in the lowest possible fuel consumption.

Fuel efficiency has further been optimised by a number of state-of-the-art features, such as the ability to use shore power for all ship systems during port stay, extensive use of waste heat recovery, variable speed pumps and ventilators, high efficiency electric motors for all applications and LED lighting.