Trailing suction hopper dredger ‘Willem van Oranje’ – part of the Royal Boskalis Westminster’s dredging fleet – selected Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam to execute her very first special survey. Since the delivery of the vessel in 2010, MV ‘Willem van Oranje’ has had numerous assignments across the world. It was now time for a maintenance stop before continuing on with new projects.

Since the dredger had to resume her activities as soon as possible, Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam (DSAm) had no more than 10 days to perform the extensive work scope on board this vessel. The critical path was dictated by the renewal of dredge pipe bushes. DSAm made, fitted and welded special dredge pipe supports for the 200 tonne dredge pipe, released the existing pin and bushes, supplied both a dummy pipe fitted to the cardan as well as 12 newly fabricated bushes.

Besides this main task other jobs needed to be executed, which incorporated hopper doors cleaning, modifications of bulwarks in way of lifeboats, shell damage repairs on aft starboard, anodes renewal and propeller blades renewal with Owner’s supplied new ones.

One special task which was executed during this project involved the fitting of a turtle deflector. Trawlers and dredging vessels working in the Mid-Atlantic Ocean are required to be outfitted with a turtle deflector. This system reduces the chance that turtles are caught in nets or suction pipes.