In 1999, the Dutch dredging contractor Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. took delivery of the trailing suction hopper dredger ’Queen of The Netherlands’. Built by Verolme Shipyard Heusden, she belongs to world’s largest trailing suction dredgers. The vessel underwent an extensive modification which resulted in an enlargement of the dredger’s hopper capacity with more than 50 percent and improved deep-water dredging capabilities.
Principal dimensions |
|
|
|
Before lengthening |
After lengthening |
Length o.a. |
173.15 |
230.71 |
Length b.p.p. |
154.12 |
211.58 |
Breadth, moulded |
32.00 |
32.00 |
Depth, moulded |
13.10 |
15.90 |
Draught at international loadline |
9.80 |
10.39 |
Draught at dredging loadline |
11.49 |
13.68 |
Gross tonnage |
22 689 |
33 423 |
|
|
|
Capacity |
|
|
Deadweight |
31 326 |
59 168 ton |
Hopper capacity |
23 347 |
35 500 m3 |
Service speed |
16.7 |
16.0 kn |
|
|
|
Dredging equipment |
|
|
Two trailing suction pipes, diameter |
1 200 |
1 200 mm |
Dredging depth |
33, 55, 85 & 112 |
67 & 83 m |
Total installed power |
27 634 |
27 634 kW |
Dredge pump output |
12 000 |
SB : 7 000 kW |
Jet pump output |
3 000 |
3 000 kW |
Pump ashore output |
12 000 |
12 000 kW |
Propulsion power sailing |
20 000 |
23 000 kW |
Bowthruster |
1 400 |
2 650 kW |
Bow discharge |
1 000 |
1 000 mm |
Bottom doors |
2x 10 |
2x 12 |
Modifications
To achieve the new dimensions and capacities, the dredger was rebuilt as follows:
- inserting midship section of about 54 metres
- increase of main deck depth with approx. 4 metres
- addition of bulbous bow
- addition of a ducktail of about 5 metres
- replacement of bow thruster
- modification of hopper loading and discharge system
- removal and replacement of trailing suction suction pipes, complete with
gantries and winches