A unit of Singapore’s Keppel Offshore & Marine has launched the third LNG-powered trailing suction hopper dredger for Dutch marine contractor Van Oord.
Keppel Singmarine floated out the LNG-powered Vox Alexia last week, according to Van Oord.
This is the third and the last in a series of LNG dual-fuel dredgers Keppel is building for Van Oord.
Last year, Keppel had floated out Vox Apolonia and Vox Ariane.
All of the three 10,500 cbm vessels will have accommodation for 22 persons, a green passport, and clean ship notation, Van Oord previously said.
Equipped with a suction pipe with a submerged e-driven dredge pump, the vessels will also have two shore discharge dredge pumps, five bottom doors, and total installed power of 14,500 kW.
In addition, these LNG hoppers will replace existing vessels and fit in with Van Oord’s aim of making the firm’s fleet more energy efficient and reduce emissions.
According to a statement by Van Oord released on March 25, the firm expects Vox Ariane to become operational in June 2022, followed by Vox Apolonia six months later and the Vox Alexia a further six months later.
