Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger UKD ORCA launched at Barkmeijer Shipyards

At BARKMEIJER SHIPYARDS, on Friday the 11th of December 2009 at 10.30 o’clock the
2300 m³ trailing suction hopper dredger with yard number BN323 has been successfully launched, named UKD ORCA.

Subsequently to this successful launch, the hull will be transported to Lemmer and later to Harlingen outfitting, commissioning and final painting. Barkmeijer Shipyards have planned the delivery in June 2010.

By the end of November 2007 Barkmeijer Shipyards received the order for the building and delivery of this 2.300 m3 trailing suction hopper dredger. The Principal is UK Dredging (UKD) in Cardiff, Wales, a daughter company of Associated British Ports (ABP) in London, owner of 21 ports around the United Kingdom. The Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger has been developed in close corporation with UK Dredging for Maintenance works in ports, rivers, sea channels, estuaries, etc. around the United Kingdom. Additionally the dredge may perform maintenance works in European ports.

The dredging installation of the dredger consists of a 700 mm suction pipe and suitable for maintenance works up to a depth of 25 meters.
 
For the loading and discharging an electrically driven dredge pump is installed in the pump room which can either serve the port side or starboard side suction pipe. Furthermore the dredge pump can be used to empty the hopper via six suction openings in the bottom door recesses. Loading of the hopper will be done via the pipe above the hopper.

Discharging the hopper can also be effectuated via the six bottom doors.

The jet water for the hopper and drag head will be delivered via an electrically driven and frequency controlled jet pump.

The main propulsion system of the dredger consists of two rudder propellers, each driven by an electrically driven and frequency controlled electric motor of 1500 kW. In the fore ship an electrically driven 500 kW bowthruster is installed. Much attention has been paid to reduce the noise and vibration levels of the bow thruster due to the presence of the accommodation on the fore ship.

The electric power will be generated by three Wärtsilä 6L 20 generator sets each with a power of 1200 kW. In addition on the main deck a Cummins emergency generator will be installed with a power of 140 kW.

On the fore ship an accommodation block will be placed equipped for a complement of twelve persons, including a galley, mess room, recreation room, laundry, provision stores and changing rooms.

On top of the accommodation a wheelhouse with a main navigation desk, two wing desks and, on the two aft side a  dredging console will be provided on a lower position. The position of the dredging desk has been chosen to have an optimal view on both the the suction pipes and the hopper.

The main particulars are:

Length over all	:	78,00 m.
Length between perpendiculars	:	75,95 m.
Breadth moulded	:	15,85 m.
Depth	:	6,35 m.
Draught design	:	4,50 m
Deadweight on 4,50 m.	:	2470 T.
Draught on international freeboard	:	5,42 m.
Deadweight on 5,42 m.	:	3554 T.
Draught on dredging mark	:	5,60 m.
Deadweight at 5,60 m.	:	3766 T.
Hopper volume at overflow level	:	2300 m3
Power dredge pump	:	800 kW
Tonnage	:	2972 GT
Speed	:	12 Knots

  
The UKD ORCA is classified by Bureau Veritas with the following notation:
Class 1 + HULL Hopper dredger Unrestricted Navigation Dredging over 15 miles from shore + MACH + AUT-UMS

Furthermore the UKD will be built and equipped conform the British Shipping Inspectorate, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).