en.Wedoany.com Reported - The National Port Authority of Uruguay (ANP) has reactivated the D9-type dredger "Alfredo Labadie," which had been out of service since October 2023, and it has now resumed dredging operations in the Port of Montevideo and its access channel.
This reactivation is one of the measures adopted by the ANP to enhance Uruguay's dredging capacity. To this end, the authority approved an investment budget of approximately $115 million for the 2025-2029 period, of which nearly $63 million will be allocated to domestic dredging projects. According to the agency, this amount is double the sum executed during the previous administration.
According to the "Preliminary Technical Report on the Comprehensive Study of the Fleet and Dredging" published in December 2025, the "Alfredo Labadie" is expected to have a remaining service life of 10 years. Built in 1984, the dredger measures 85.20 meters in length and 17.70 meters in width, with a hopper capacity of 3,000 cubic meters. The vessel underwent a refit in 2018, including the replacement of the main engine, a dredging engine, and a controllable-pitch propeller.
In December 2022, while conducting dredging operations in the outer port of Montevideo, the vessel's starboard propeller was damaged by a cable in the water. Following the incident, the ship continued operating on port-side propulsion only until its next dry-docking. During that lay-up, it was determined that the propeller was beyond repair, leading to the dredger's suspension. In August 2025, two propellers were replaced under the supervision of the Merchant Marine Technical Committee (COTEC-PNN).
After obtaining certifications related to launching and hull sealing, the vessel was moved to Pier 11 of the Port of Montevideo in December to complete water-based commissioning. Work included cleaning fuel and drinking water tanks, performing scheduled 12,000-hour maintenance on propulsion engines and generators, and adjusting the dredging system. Subsequently, in March 2026, the original propeller manufacturer, Kongsberg, calibrated the controllable-pitch system of the new propellers. As for the port-side dredging engine, the ANP stated that it remains in storage and is planned for installation during a future routine lay-up.
