SCHOTTEL Thrusters Propel New Australian Dredger

A newly built 60-meter trailing suction hopper dredger Tommy Norton started work to deliver safe and reliable ocean access for the commercial vessels, oil and gas suppliers and commercial fishing fleet that cross the entrance bar to the Gippsland Lakes area.

The dredger is the first built by Damen Shipyards Group for Australia, and features propulsion is provided by two SCHOTTEL Rudderpropellers type SRP 330 fixed pitch.

Capable of dredging to depths of 15 meters, the dredger has been built with bottom doors to enable self-emptying and can alternate between a bow connection and rainbow expulsion for beach reclamation work. In order to increase the vessel’s payload capacity when dredging sand with a high specific density, Damen has reduced the freeboard of the vessel and applied a dredge mark.