Three Water Injection Dredgers to extend the versatile Jan De Nul fleet
Size doesn’t always matter! After having recently announced the construction of its mega offshore jack-up installation vessel Voltaire, Jan De Nul Group is now proud to extend its fleet with three water injection dredgers (WID).
Giovanni Venturi is the first out of three to be delivered by PaxOcean Shipyard. Jan De Nul Group recently purchased three offshore supply vessels and ordered the Singaporean shipyard to convert them into seagoing Water Injection Dredgers. Giovanni Venturi will be mobilised to its first project in Argentina. The other two Water Injection Dredgers Henri Pitot and Henry Darcy are in the process of being converted and will be delivered later this year.
These WIDs are fitted with power jetting systems used for the low-pressure injection of water into sediments. By doing this, the sediments fluidize and naturally move, just above the seabed, through natural sediment streams. They also have Dynamic Positioning (DP), swell compensation for stable working conditions at sea, and diesel-electric drives reducing considerably the CO2 emissions.
Mobility and flexibility
These vessels are smaller than traditional dredgers, and have high manoeuvrability and a limited draught. This type of dredger is perfectly suited for maintenance dredging works in smaller ports, but also for other services such as levelling the seabed for other installation services or for post-lowering of pipelines and cables in the seabed.
Environmentally sound dredging method
Contrary to the traditional dredging methods where sediments are mechanically transported, water injection dredging does not remove the sediments. Water is injected, sediments fluidize and nature takes care of the sediment transport. The sediments stay in their natural environment by only moving horizontally, just above the seabed. The process does not impact overlying water layers.
The fact that the sediments do not need to be transported by means of a hopper, barge or pipeline, turns water injection dredging also into a cost-efficient dredging technique.
About Jan De Nul Group
Innovation, expertise and sustainability. This is the strength of Jan De Nul Group. Thanks to the passion and commitment of its employees and the hypermodern fleet, the Group is market leader in dredging and maritime works, as well as in specialised services for the offshore market of oil, gas and renewable energy. The Group is also a leading company in civil engineering and environmental activities.
The professional and innovative solutions are trusted across the industry. Whether it concerns the construction of new locks, the installation of the offshore wind farms or the redevelopment of polluted industrial sites, together with its clients Jan De Nul Group contributes to further economic development in a responsible way. – www.jandenul.com
