Damen Delivers Equipment to Maritime Constructions for Australian Port Extension Project

Damen Shipyards Group has delivered a Cutter Suction Dredge (CSD) 500 and a Multi Cat 1506 to Maritime Constructions of Port Adelaide, Australia. The two vessels are being used on a port extension project in Onslow, Western Australia.

Maritime Constructions has been awarded the contract for the Onslow Marine Support Base Channel Dredging project, which will modify and expand the Beadon Creek Harbour Approach Channel, Swing Basin and Berth Pocket. This involves the dredging and reclamation of up to 950,000 cubic meters (about 1,243,000 cubic yards).

Damen shipped the vessels from Damen Shipyards Changde, China through Shanghai to Dampier. From there, Maritime Constructions arranged the road transport to Onslow. The CSD, being a modular design, was shipped in sections. The spud carrier, added to increase the dredging production on this project, was transferred from Damen stock in the Netherlands. Damen Dredging in the Netherlands also supplied extra dredge pumps, gearboxes, couplings and other parts. From these, Maritime Constructions has constructed three extra booster stations needed to pump the material over the maximum distance.

Upon arrival, a Damen Field Service Engineer supported the client with the assembly of the dredge. The CSD, named Pilbara Sawfish after a local endangered species, then started dredging. It has since dredged 700,000 cubic meters (about 916,000 cubic yards) of an abrasive mix of coarse sand, shell, cobbles and gravel.