News – August 20, 2008
Van Oord in The Netherlands reports that the upgrade of its trailing suction hopper dredger HAM 318 has recently been completed, and the vessel is now back in operation.
The vessel now has a hopper capacity of 37,293m³, making it the largest operational trailing suction hopper dredger in the world.
The enlargement of the vessel was undertaken at COSCO shipyard in China. A midship section measuring 52m and incorporating about 4,500 tonnes of steel has increased HAM 318’s length to 228m. The vessel’s hopper capacity has increased from 23,783m³ to 37,293m³.
After the upgrade, HAM 318 returned to the Middle East, where it is now deployed on the Palm Deira project to help build the third and largest palm island in Dubai.