Omvac Catorce

Spain’s Nodosa Shipyard has delivered a new trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) to local marine projects company Canlemar.

Omvac Catorce (“Omvac Fourteen”) is the third dredger in a series to be built by Nodosa for Canlemar. The TSHD has a length of 63.67 metres, a beam of 12.5 metres, a draught of 4.25 metres, a hopper capacity of 1,200 cubic metres, and accommodations for 10 crewmembers.

The dredger is fitted with an excavator capable of digging at depths of up to 60 metres. The excavator is mounted on a Liebherr crane that can be repositioned anywhere along the vessel’s entire length via a roller-equipped platform mounted directly above the hopper.

Dredging can be performed via the excavator or a 500mm trailing suction pipe to enable the vessel to work with a broad range of material such as gravel and aggregates, providing enhanced operational flexibility. Even the discharge of the dredged material can be done through various means, whether through the opening of the hopper’s bottom doors, the excavator, a bow coupling unit, or a rainbow nozzle ideal for beach nourishment works.

Damen Dredging Equipment supplied Omvac Catorce’s suction pipe, the dredge pump, and other associated machinery as part of a complete package similar to that fitted on sister vessel Omvac Diez. The dredger also has various Damen dredging instrumentation systems that can monitor parameters such as trailing pipe position, load and draught, density and velocity, and vacuum and pressure.

Two Caterpillar C32 MGO engines that each produce 746 kW at 1,800 rpm drive Schottel SRP330 fixed-pitch propellers to deliver a service speed of 7.5 knots, though sea trials showed that this arrangement will enable the dredger to reach nine knots. The main engines are also IMO Tier III-compliant to allow the dredger to operate even in emission control areas (ECAs).

The remainder of the propulsion system consists of two Caterpillar C9 245kW auxiliary engines, two Leroy Sommer 123kVA alternators, two Schottel SRP270 rudder propellers, and a 220kW bow thruster powered by a dedicated Caterpillar C18 engine. The dredger is also equipped with a Guerra deck crane and a Narwhal outboard rescue boat.

Type of vessel:Trailing suction hopper dredger

Flag:Spain

Owner:Canlemar, Spain

Builder:Nodosa Shipyard, Spain

Length overall:63.67 metres

Length bp:61.01 metres

Beam:12.5 metres

Draught:4.25 metres

Depth:4.5 metres

Deadweight tonnage:2,050

Gross tonnage:1,161

Capacity:1,200 cubic metres

Main engines:2 x Caterpillar C32, each 746 kW at 1,800 rpm

Gearbox:Reintjes WAF-543

Propulsion:2 x Schottel SRP 330 fixed-pitch propellers; 2 x Schottel SRP 270 rudder propellers

Auxiliary engines:2 x Caterpillar C9, each 245 kW at 1,500 rpm; Caterpillar C18

Generators:2 x Leroy Sommer, each 123 kVA

Side thruster:220 kW

Maximum speed:9.0 knots

Cruising speed:7.5 knots

Windlasses:2

Cranes:Liebherr HS 8100 HD; Guerra M33024A5

Dredging equipment:Damen

Other equipment installed:Teknotherm Marine Espana HVAC

Rescue boat:Narwhal

Type of fuel:MGO

Crew:10