In the News:
INTERNATIONAL DREDGING BRIEFS
Eko Atlantic City Project: Chinese Dredgers Kicked Out.
Reports reaching DDH say that the Chinese dredging contractors handling the reclamation of the Atlantic shoreline for the proposed Eko Atlantic City have been kicked off the project due to slow delivery. The owners of the job acting through a Nigerian bank sacked the Chinese and invited Dredging International (DI) to take over following concerns about their investment in the project.
Reports say since the coming of DI the pace of the project has improved with much sand now covering the shoreline off NIOMR and NTA axes. A source who visited the site informed DDH that an observer cannot see the ocean from this area meaning that substantial progress is being made though the completion schedule for the planned city is still in the dark.
It could not be confirmed at press time if the Chinese dredging outfit still working at the Lagos West Mole was working for the Nigerian Ports Authority or some other principals but authoritative sources say they moved their hopper dredgers, once deployed for the Eko Atlantic city project to Brazil. The dredgers were said to be poorly performing while in Nigeria.
Italdraghe to show expanded range of dredge pumps at Seawork 2010
Seawork exhibition has announced that Italdraghe, with its UK agent Andrew Scott, will once again be exhibiting at Seawork and this year will be showcasing its newly-expanded range of dredging pumps.
With its takeover of Draghe Lario Srl, Italy's only other dredging pump manufacturer, the Italdraghe Group further extended its range of purpose-designed dredge pumps and booster stations.
Both Draghe Lario and Italdraghe had been designing and manufacturing their own lines of hard-wearing high-performance pumps for over forty years, and while the products of both producers had certain features, such as easy disassembly and simple maintenance, in common, they differed from one another in terms of impeller diameter and low-high pressure output.
The new joint range, now entirely manufactured on the Italdraghe premises in San Giovanni, includes recently geometrically re-designed pumps with three, four and five-blade impellers as well as open impellers able to handle dredged material with a high concentration of cut vegetation.
By combining the two product lines of both single and double-walled pumps, the Italdraghe Group is now in a position to be able to supply the ideal dredge pump for all types of CSDs excavating materials with a diameter of up to 400 mm. Furthermore, given that its pumps are manufactured entirely in-house in Italy, it is able to guarantee the immediate availability of key spare parts at all times.
Interestingly, a large number of both Italdraghe and Draghe Lario pumps are also used outside of the dredging sector, including in the South American precious metal mining field, while the off-spin range of vertical slurry pumps is proving particularly popular with foundries and heavy mining industries.
Malaysian State plans to acquires dredger
The Bernama news agency in Malaysia says the Terengganu state government plans to acquire a dredger in efforts to overcome the problem of shallow estuaries in the state.
Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said that in the long term the purchase would save on digging cost to deepen the river which would involve about RM5 million in expenditure annually besides preventing floods in the state.
"We have decided that it is necessary for the Terengganu government to have a dredger next year as we have been briefed by the Drainage and irrigation department (DID) about the critical problems concerning the estuaries in Terengganu," he explained.
"We have 14 estuaries in Terengganu and all of them need to be deepened and maintained throughout the year," he said.
Dredged material facility reopens to recreational visitors
The US Army Corps of Engineers says the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area is scheduled to reopen for recreational visitors April 2 on a limited basis.
After being closed to visitors due to pipeline construction, seeding operations and road work, visitors will be able to visit the facility from 7.00am to 3.00pm on Fridays.
Once named Craney Point by the early English settlers who thought cranes inhabited the island, Craney Island was actually inhabited by white and blue herons. Craney is an attractive staging and feeding area for migratory shore birds and waterfowl. Before Craney was built, only straight shoreline existed; the area now offers 2,500 acres of prime waterfront property for birds, less disturbed than a public beach where the breeding birds normally rest. Thousands of birds migrating up and down the East Coast stop at Craney Island choose to nest on the island and raise their young.
Due to the vibrant wildlife, Craney Island has formed its own ecosystem, with a community of feral cats, wild dogs and red foxes that have, in some instances, destroyed nesting birds.
In the past, the Norfolk District of the Corps of Engineers has received recognition for the creation, protection and preservation of a critical bird habitat. Although Craney Island is not a recreational facility and does not have the resources of a traditional recreational facility, it is open for recreational use.
Visitor logs are maintained by staff members to track the number of recreational fishermen, crabbers, Audubon Society members and birdwatchers that enjoy the ever-changing and dynamic site.
IHC Merwede launches Chinese cutter suction dredgers
IHC Merwede has launched two cutter suction dredgers for SinoHydro.
IHC Merwede simultaneously launched two IHC Beaver 9029C cutter suction dredgers on 24 March 2010. The vessels were designed and built for one of the company's large Chinese customers, Sinohydro, by IHC Beaver Dredgers.
Zhong Guo Shui Dian J08 was named and launched at the company's Sliedrecht shipyard, while its sistership, Zhong Guo Shui Dian J09, was named and launched at the company's Hardinxveld-Giessendam shipyard.
Said the company: "The ceremony signified IHC Merwede's ability to supply these custom-built vessels to the Chinese market. It also exhibited the level of advanced technology at its disposal and the control it enjoys over the manufacturing and assembly processes at the locations of its various business unit location in The Netherlands.”
"The new dredgers benefit from the quality and efficiency that come as an integral part of every IHC Merwede vessel. This makes the 4,000m³/hr 13,000kW IHC Beaver 9029C an extremely competitive package on a global basis, offering new opportunities and possibilities to Sinohydro."
The cutter suction dredgers have the capacity to achieve high outputs at a relatively low cost.
They can also work to a depth of up to 29m and under challenging conditions with a wide range of material.
Jan de Nul sees benefits of Damen Stan Tugs
Jan de Nul has recently taken delivery of five more Damen Stan tugs.
Damen Shipyards Gorinchem reports that Belgian dredging company Jan De Nul can clearly see the benefits of the Damen Stan Tug 1606, having recently taken delivery of five more examples of the design.
In 2008, Jan De Nul placed an order for five additional Stan Tugs, following on from an earlier order in 2007, when the Belgian firm ordered six Stan Tugs, as well as four Damen Fast Crew Suppliers.
The latest five vessels were built at Albwardy Marine Engineering in Dubai, one of Damen's joint venture shipyards in the Middle East.
With a bollard pull in excess of 15 tonnes and a speed of 11 knots, the vessels are particularly well equipped for assisting big hopper and cutter suction dredgers in many different operations.
Aqaba Development Corporation invites expressions of interest for marine work
Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) has invited interested companies to submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the construction of marine works at the New Port of Aqaba.
The immediate mobilisation of the marine works, a key component of the project, is the first in a series of construction packages which are scheduled to ensure the new port will be fully operational within the deadline imposed by the Government of Jordan for the purpose of handing over the land of the existing Main Port to Al-Ma'abar.
"The New Port of Aqaba will replace the existing main port facility and is an integral part of ADC's transport master plan to transform Aqaba into a leading multi-modal logistics gateway for the Levant region on the Red Sea. The new facilities will significantly increase the flexibility and cargo handling capacity for the only sea-gate of Jordan, stimulating economic growth as a result of the improved access for goods to the Jordanian market and as a strategic transit point for the Iraqi re-construction initiatives," said Shadi Ramzi Majali, CEO of ADC.
"In addition, moving the port facilities to the Southern Industrial Zone will enhance Aqaba's global reputation as a first class leisure and tourist destination, further attracting investment and visitors. ADC and ASEZA will carefully manage the growth and complex interface between these sectors to ensure a correct balance is maintained for sustained development and full engagement of the local business and international investment communities," he said.
"Local and International firms are being invited to jointly submit the documentation in order to demonstrate their capability to undertake the initial phase of the New Port of Aqaba," Majali added.
"The joint venture approach ADC is adopting, requiring a minimum of 25 per cent local firm representation in the proposals, will not only ensure that Jordan's domestic construction sector is actively participating in projects of national importance, but should ensure competitive pricing and a robust mix of relevant experience within the consortia."
Sierra Gold says refurbished dredgers to start work shortly
Sierra Gold Corporation says two 8" dredgers purchased last month by the company have been completely refurbished and shipped this week to Sierra Leone.
Cutter suction dredger Clair de Lune shipped to Nigeria.
Claire de Lune is due to be delivered shortly.
Damen Dredging Equipment in The Netherlands has delivered a cutter suction dredger, type CSD500, complete with what it called "many options" to MFW Dredging in Nigeria.
The delivery package also included a workboat and personnel carriers. The dredger was transported to Nigeria by BACO Liner to Port Harcourt, and will be set to work in the sand mining industry.
Clair de Lune has been enhanced by a large number of options, including a spud carriage pontoon and an anchor boom system were added to enhance efficiency. An accommodation unit, VHF system and navigation lights were added, plus a gate valve in the discharge pipe line.
As mentioned above, the contract also included four Damen FAC540 personnel carriers and a Damen MiniCat1003. MFW Dredging has operated only Damen vessels in the last decade.
Clair de Lune is due to arrive on site in January, where it will start winning sand for infrastructue projects.
