French shipbuilder Piriou has announced the delivery to shipowner CETRA of an 85-metre hopper dredger that will operate on the French western maritime coast, loading and transporting marine sand and gravel or mineral products.
The ship, 'Mechel DSR', can unload dry products and does not therefore rely on port infrastructure. It is also multipurpose to optimise voyages and minimise road transport on a regional level.
It has capacity of loading from depths of up to 40 metres, whereas a conventional vessel can only load from 22-25 metres.