The naming and launch ceremony for the 11,650m3 trailing suction hopper dredger, 'Breughel', took place on June 11 at the IHC Merwede shipyard in Krimpen aan den IJssel, the Netherlands.
The contract for the design, construction and delivery of the vessel was signed between the Dredging, Environmental and Marine Engineering Group (DEME) and IHC Dredgers in June 2010, and the keel was laid on November 15, 2010. The vessel will be delivered by November 2011. The 'Breughel' is named after Pieter Breughel, the famous Belgian painter of the Northern Renaissance period.
The design of the 'Breughel' is based on the successful trailing suction hopper dredgers 'Brabo' and 'Breydel', delivered by IHC Merwede in 2007 and 2008 respectively. The limited draught, combined with large width, ensures that the 'Breughel' can be used in conditions where other ships of this class would be restricted. The vessel's one-man operated bridge is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art console, which combines both the dredging and sailing functions.
