The Vox Ariane, Van Oord’s first trailing suction hopper dredger equipped with an LNG fuel system, has been unveiled at a three-day event on the Koninginnenhoofd Quay in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Measuring 138m long and with a hopper capacity of approximately 10,500 cubic meters, the Vox Ariane is the first vessel in Van Oord’s fleet to be equipped with a more sustainable LNG fuel system. Built by the Keppel Singmarine shipyard in Singapore, she will replace existing vessels within the company’s fleet to make the fleet more energy efficient. Thanks to an energy-efficient design, fuel consumption and carbon emissions will be reduced, which qualifies the vessel for a Green Passport and a Clean Ship notation.
The vessel is equipped with a suction pipe with an electrically powered underwater dredge pump, two inboard dredge pumps, five bottom doors and an installed total power of 14,500kW. The Vox Ariane can accommodate up to 22 crew members.
Vox Ariane forms part of the company’s Sustainable Earth Actions program, which aims to make Van Oord carbon neutral by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement. At present, approximately 95% of Van Oord’s carbon footprint is linked to its fleet; over the next five years, the company plans to invest €1bn (US$1.07bn) in green vessels and alternative fuels.
The vessel was christened by Van Oord’s CFO and member of the executive committee, Jolanda Poots-Bijl.
