RH Marine to Supply Monitoring and Positioning Systems for Dutch LNG Dredge

RH Marine is supplying its Rhodium Alarm Monitoring System (AMS) and Dynamic Positioning and Tracking control system (DPT) for the first LNG Dutch dredge, the Ecodelta.

The trailing suction hopper dredge is owned by dredging and contractor company Van der Kamp, which will use the dredge to keep the ports of Rotterdam and Eemshaven at the right depth. The ship is 134 meters (440 feet) long, 21 meters (69 feet) wide and can dredge up to 37 meters (121 feet) deep. It has a capacity of 5,500 cubic meters (7,194 cubic yards). The Ecodelta has five LNG engines and four electric motors. The Ecodelta has four Dual-Fuel engines and an on-board gas engine. All drives are operated by four electric motors.

For its classification, the Ecodelta requires an alarm and system to monitor all operations, like propulsion and dredging, via sensors. Operating systems can be monitored on screens on the bridge, in the engine control room, and on other workstations.

Van der Kamp also opted for RH Marine’s DPT system, which was initially developed for the dredging sector. This system keeps the dredge on a pre-set heading automatically adjusting to compensate for water depths, draft and speed.

“In the past dredging was done by using an ordinary autopilot, keeping the speed constant by manual control. The reason for Van der Kamp to purchase the DPT system is that in the future there may be orders for precision dredging or dumping. The ship must then be able to keep its position more precisely,” said RH Marine’s consultant Ehab El Amam.

Experts from RH Marine trained personnel from Van der Kamp on how to work with the systems.