The name giving and launch of the 5,600m³ trailing suction hopper dredger CRESTWAY takes place at the IHC Merwede yard in Kinderdijk on Friday, 16 May 2008, at about 3:00 p.m. The ship is being built for Royal Boskalis Westminster nv.
The name giving and launch will be performed by Mrs. M. Heemskerk-Valk, the wife of Mr. H. Heemskerk, Member of the Supervisory Board of Royal Boskalis Westminster and Chairman of the Executive Board of Rabobank Nederland.
The CRESTWAY is the second of two medium-sized 5,600m³ hoppers that Boskalis is having built. Her sister ship, the SHOREWAY, is currently under construction at IHC Beaver Dredgers in Sliedrecht, where she was launched on 17 April of this year.
Both ships are 97.5m long, with a hopper capacity of 5,600m³. They will be used in global Boskalis dredging operations, and they have been specially designed for dredging and the transportation of sand and sludge. They are ideal both for working in shallow waters and for the maintenance of harbours, beach replenishment and land reclamation projects.
The CRESTWAY and SHOREWAY combine a no-nonsense approach to design with a high level of versatility. During the design phase, the emphasis was on keeping the weight of the vessel relatively low, while maximising hopper capacity.
The construction of the CRESTWAY and SHOREWAY fits in with the Boskalis multi-year fleet plans. The programme includes the construction of four trailing suction hopper dredgers varying from 5,600 to 12,000m³, the extension of the QUEEN OF THE NETHERLANDS to transform it into a 35,500m³ mega-hopper, the replacement of the mega-hopper the WD FAIRWAY, the construction of the jumbo cutter suction dredger the PHOENIX, and various other specialist vessels for the energy markets. The ships will go into service between 2007 and 2012.
In addition, Boskalis is making preparations for investments in a new generation of jumbo cutters that will supplement its fleet in the years to come, replacing it in the longer term.
Boskalis Profile
Royal Boskalis Westminster nv is an international group with a leading position in the world market for dredging services. Its core activities are the construction and maintenance of ports and waterways, land reclamation, coastal defence and riverbank protection. The company holds ten home market positions in and outside Europe and targets all market segments in the dredging industry. It also has positions in strategic partnerships in the Middle East (Archirodon) and in offshore services (Lamnalco). Boskalis has a versatile fleet of over 300 units and operates in over 50 countries across five continents. Including its share in partnerships, Boskalis has approximately 8,000 employees.
IHC Merwede Profile
IHC Merwede is focused on the continuous development of its design and construction activities for the specialised shipbuilding sector, in particular the dredging and offshore industries. IHC Merwede is world market leader in the construction of specialist dredging equipment and complex custom-built offshore vessels. The clients of IHC Merwede include major dredging companies, oil and gas exploration groups, offshore contractors and government authorities.
IHC Merwede has a staff of approximately 2,200 at its locations in the Netherlands. There are also branches in the UK, China, Houston (USA), India, the Middle East, Russia and Singapore.