Dual-fuel Dredge Being Built in France

An innovative, eco-efficient water injection dredge is being constructed under a joint contract of the Atlantic Port of Bordeaux, the EIG Dragages Ports and the Socarenam shipyard. The LNG powered vessel will replace the grab hopper dredge La Maqueline, which has been in service since 1984. The dredge, to be named L’Ostrea, will work with another dredge Anita Conti to maintain the navigation channel and quaysides at Bordeaux.

The first dual-fuel dredge built in France will burn Liquefied Natural Gas and Marine Light Diesel, therefore emitting 25 percent less carbon dioxide, 80 percent less nitrogen oxide, almost no sulphur dioxide of particulates. It will be fully equipped with a specially designed dredging system, azimuth thrusters, dynamic positioning, a heavy lift crane, and cabins with noise and vibration reduction construction.

Dragages-Ports is an economic interest grouping created in 1979, whose members are the French State and the major maritime port authorities of Dunkirk, Le Havre, Rouen, Nantes-Saint-Nazaire, La Rochelle, Bordeaux and Marseille. The group manages a fleet of seven vessels for maintenance dredging operations.