Dutch shipyard IHC Merwede in Kinderdijk launched Van Oord's latest trailing suction hopper dredger 'Vox Maxima' on April 24.
Officiating the naming and launching ceremony was Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the Netherlands. Other dignitaries present were Dutch Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, Camiel Eurlings; the Queen's Commissioner for South-Holland, Jan Franssen; and national and international business relations of IHC Merwede and Van Oord.
With a hopper capacity of 31,000 cubic metres, 'Vox Maxima' is the largest dredging vessel ever built in the Netherlands and is also the largest ship built in the country since 1990.
Final construction will take place in the coming months, with the vessel going into operation in late 2009.