Marine Projects Vessel News Roundup | June 16 – US and Dutch dredgers plus Chinese-built heavy transport and rock laying ships

An American contractor welcomes a new dredger to its fleet as construction is underway on rock installation vessels and a heavy transporter for operations in Asian waters. A Dutch engineering firm has meanwhile been selected to build a large capacity hopper dredger for a local customer.

Mike Hooks christens newest dredger

Westlake, Louisiana-based dredging company Mike Hooks christened its newest cutter suction dredger in a ceremony on Wednesday, June 14.

The vessel has been named Lorraine Hooks after the wife of company founder Mike Hooks. It was designed and built by SPI/Mobile Pulley Works (SPI/MPW) of Mobile, Alabama, in compliance with the latest requirements and regulations from the US Coast Guard and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

Lorraine Hooks is the fifth vessel to join the current active Mike Hooks fleet. It will be used on projects along the Gulf Coast.

New Chinese-built heavy transport vessel hits the water

China’s Taizhou Fangzhen Shipbuilding has floated out a new heavy transport vessel ordered by Hong Kong Juquan Shipping.

Once completed, the 139-metre-long Feng Haida will be used to transport jackets and other large components of offshore wind turbines. The vessel will also be DP2- and river-sea-capable.

Construction was done in compliance to Hong Kong flag and China Classification Society requirements.

Chinese yard lays keels of new rock installation vessels

China’s Zhejiang Haoyou Shipbuilding has laid the keels of two new rock installation vessels ordered by local operator CCCC Shanghai Waterway Bureau.

The 116-metre-long vessels will be capable of rock installation in support of marine construction projects in both coastal and near-shore environments up to a maximum depth of 30 metres.

The vessels will be classed by China Classification Society.

Dutch partnership to develop hopper dredger with 31,000-cubic-metre capacity

Dutch companies Boskalis and Royal IHC have entered into a letter of intent (LOI) for the construction of a trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) with a hopper capacity of 31,000 cubi metres.

The vessel will be built at the Royal IHC yard in Krimpen aan den IJssel in the Netherlands. It is scheduled to be delivered to Boskalis in the middle of 2026.

The TSHD will be equipped with two suction pipes, a large shore pump capacity, and diesel-electric propulsion. The vessel may also be configured to run on methanol as an alternative fuel.