Dredging Africa (Pty) Ltd has signed a contract with Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) for the delivery of a Cutter Suction Dredger (CSD) 250. Due to Damen’s policy of series building standardised vessels, the CSD was in stock and available for fast delivery in March 2018. This will be the first Damen CSD to operate in South Africa. The contract for the CSD came about after Dredging Africa signed a memorandum of understanding with DSCT at the yard’s first African Dredging Seminar, held in October last year. 

Mr Arend van de Wetering, Director of Dredging Africa said: “We are very happy to be working with DSCT for the delivery of this dredger. From the outset, the collaboration has been excellent; Damen have gone out of their way to create the opportunity for this project to be realised. They really thought along with us to create a solution that matches exactly our needs – including looking at various financing options that are available.” 

Damen Product Director Dredging Olivier Marcus concurred, saying, “We are very pleased to be delivering this CSD to Dredging Africa. The cooperation between us has been very fruitful and we are looking forward very much to delivering the vessel in a short space of time. Dredging has enormous potential to open up new trading opportunities in South Africa and we are proud to play our part in supporting this.” 

DSCT decided to host the African Dredging seminar, understanding the importance dredging has for South Africa and the wider region. CSDs such as this also have the capability to maintain reservoirs ensuring the supply of drinking water in the country. Damen has previously delivered a number of products from the Damen Dredging Equipment (DDE) portfolio to Africa. Dredging Africa intends to use its dredger on multiple contracts in South Africa and Southern Africa at large. 

Damen’s CSD portfolio features a range of standardised dredgers often built for stock and customised for individual client requirements via the application of standard options. Damen has optimised its designs based on user experience. As a result, the CSDs offer an outstanding high production to low operating cost ratio, extreme ergonomics, low noise & vibration and a layout aimed at ease of maintenance. The modular nature of the design means that the CSD 250 can be transported easily, in just three containers, to the remotest of locations. 

DSCT will be on hand to support Dredging Africa in the ongoing service and maintenance of the CSD, including with the supply of spare parts from stock in order to ensure maximum uptime of the dredger.