On the 20th of February, Jan De Nul Group has placed an order with Tianjin Xinhe Shipbuilding and Heavy Industry Co.Ltd. for the construction of two 3,400m³ hopper dredgers. Additionally, an option for a third identical hopper dredger has been agreed on.
These dredgers are specifically designed for operation in shallow waters, and have a loaded draught of only 5m. The vessels are completely diesel-electric, and are provided with electrically driven rudder propellers and bow thruster, making them very manoeuvrable, and therefore eminently suitable for operation in confined areas.