Jan De Nul Group has signed contracts with STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. for the construction of two 7500 m3 hopper dredgers and one 6000 ton side stone dumping vessel.
Similar vessels were originally ordered with a different shipyard in 2006 and 2007 but the shipyard at that time failed to deliver the vessels.
With this new order, Jan De Nul Group confirms that, notwithstanding the difficult actual economic situation, and the setback suffered when the previous shipyard collapsed, it proceeds with the investment program under way, with a total value of about 1.8 billion Euro. Jan De Nul Group is especially pleased by the opportunity to cooperate with STX Offshore & Shipbuilding, the 4th largest shipbuilder in the world.
The two 7500 m3 trailing suction hopper dredgers are state of the art vessels, specially designed for operation in shallow and confined waters. The vessels are provided with a 1000 mm suction pipe for a dredging depth of 46.4 m, and a 4000 kW dredge pump. The vessels are further provided with rudder propellers, a 750 kW bow thruster and a Class 1 dynamic positioning system.
The 6000 ton side stone dumping vessel will be the largest of its type. The vessel will be used for accurately placing stones on the sea bottom, for marine construction and offshore works. The diesel- electric vessel is provided with a Class 2 dynamic positioning system.
The total value of these orders is around 150 million USD. The vessels will be built in the STX Busan shipyard, and will be delivered in 2011.