The 13,700 cu m trailing suction hopper dredger Lange Wapper was built by IHC Holland for Dredging International and Baggerwerken Decloedt the specialist sister dredging companies in the DEME Group.

This 20,000 dwt dredger is 120 m long, with a beam of 26.8 m. Dredging depth is in the range 30/50 m, total installed power is 13,400 kW, and when fully loaded the vessel still achieves 15 knots.

The Lange Wapper was specifically designed with a shallow draft of 8 m to carry a deadweight of 15,500 tonnes. The design philosophy is the combination of a large loading capacity and a shallow draft while maintaining a maximum dredging depth of 50 m.

Unique software has been provided to handle all data concerning navigation, dredging and surveying data. Before now software systems have only been capable of communicating together from stand-alone packages. Between five and ten extra systems have often been required onboard with four or five additional personnel to operate them. The new networked system on the Lange Wapper will be available at a number of computer terminals on the vessel and will be capable of drawing in additional data via satellite communications.

Unlike more conventional dredgers of this size, the Lange Wapper is equipped with one suction pipe rather than two. Besides the maximising its loading capacity, this improves vessel's maneuverability – an important feature when working in rivers where frequent turning is required. Maneuverability is also enhanced by the configuration of two bow propellers and a bow thruster.

More information: Dredging International