Van Oord christens newest hybrid water injection dredgers

Van Oord held a formal naming ceremony for its two newest water injection dredgers (WID) on Friday, April 26.

Rijn and Rhône are sister vessels of Maas and Mersey, which were successfully commissioned in 2021. All four WIDs were built by Netherlands-based the Kooiman Marine Group.

The combination of hybrid energy management systems, heat recovery systems, and exhaust gas aftertreatment devices reduce the vessels’ energy consumption and emissions of greenhouse gases, NOx, and particulate matter.

Two electrically driven pumps deliver water under high pressure, or with a significant volume, through the U-shaped water injection pipe located at the rear of each vessel. With this pipe, water is injected into the soil, releasing sediment that is then flushed away naturally by the current.

Multiple injection methods are possible, providing the vessels with optimal usability.

The 43-metre WIDs also come equipped with dynamic positioning systems, with positioning being aided by electrically driven rudder propellers and bow thrusters. This capability enables the dredgers to operate effectively even under the more challenging conditions in deeper offshore waters.