en.Wedoany.com Reported - Belgian dredging contractor DEME has selected Dutch maritime design company Vuyk Engineering to collaborate on the design of its newly announced shallow-draft 22,000-cubic-meter trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD).

Vuyk Engineering worked closely with DEME to develop the vessel's design. Fuel efficiency and future flexibility were key drivers of the design. As a result, the design combines a hydrodynamically optimized hull with an advanced power generation and propulsion system, and is prepared for a future fuel transition to green methanol.

Floris Toetenel, Director of Vuyk Engineering, stated that being selected by DEME to co-design this vessel is a strong testament to their capabilities and a decade-long partnership. DEME required the design team to balance productivity, efficiency, and future fuel flexibility in a single design, and collaboration with DEME throughout the design process enabled them to achieve these goals.

The new TSHD continues the long-standing collaboration between DEME and Vuyk Engineering. Previous projects include trailing suction hopper dredgers, cutter suction dredgers, offshore wind installation equipment, and offshore support vessels, with both companies jointly developing designs for various maritime applications. The latest project continues this collaboration, designing a vessel for the next generation of dredging operations. The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2029.

Jan Gabriel, Head of Fleet Investment at DEME, stated that this vessel is a significant addition to their dredging fleet. Throughout the design process, they worked closely with Vuyk to translate operational requirements into a practical and efficient vessel design. The combined experience in dredger design and the open collaboration between the teams greatly facilitated the development of a vessel aligned with their strategy.