VESSEL REVIEW | Krakatoa – Stationary dredger delivered to Indonesian operator

Pelayaran Fortuna Nusantara Megajaya (PFNM), a marine projects company based in Indonesia, has taken delivery of a 70-metre-long, 650-tonne cutter suction dredger (CSD) from the Damen Dredging Equipment division of Netherlands-based the Damen Shipyards Group.

Classed by Bureau Veritas, the 70- by 10.5-metre, 660-tonne CSD has been named Krakatoa after a local caldera. Damen said the vessel is the largest stationary dredger owned by an Indonesian operator. Even with its large size, the dredger can be easily disassembled, transported by road, and reassembled on site.

The dredger is fitted with a 650mm suction pipe and a 700kW cutter head that can work in water depths up to 25 metres. Heavy-duty side wire winches transfer the continuous 700 kW of cutter power effectively to the soil, while the vessel itself has a swing width of 71 metres.

The suction ladder incorporates a submersible dredge pump, which is powered by a dedicated Caterpillar C32 1,080kVa generator and works in tandem with the inboard dredge pump. The inboard pump is meanwhile powered by a Caterpillar 3516C 1,825kW diesel generator with a Caterpillar 3512C 1,119kW generator serving as a backup. A separate 35kVa harbour generator is also fitted. All generators are fed by fuel oil tanks with a combined capacity of 87.6 cubic metres.

Around 3,938 kW of installed power will ensure a significant discharge distance and dredge production of 7,000 cubic metres per hour on average.

The dredger also has custom equipment including a deck crane, an anchor boom installation, a dredge valve and a swivel in the discharge piping, plus a complete dredging instrumentation package. The sole operator sits in a control cabin with both air conditioning and heating. Both the control cabin and the engine room are spacious and ergonomically designed.

The operator also has access to a day accommodation space with a toilet and a small galley.

Krakatoa will be operated on Kalimantan island. Damen will continue to provide PFNM with spare parts and training throughout the CSD’s service life.

Click here for more news stories, feature articles, and vessel reviews as part of this month’s focus on marine projects.