Boskalis Expands Fleet With The Coastway

Coastway, a new 4,900 m3 trailing suction hopper dredger for Westminster Dredging Company of Fareham, will be launched today at the Merwede Shipyard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam. Mrs. J.M. van Gelder-Wolff, wife of R. van Gelder, chairman of the board of Management of Royal Boskalis Westminster nv, will perform the inauguration and launch of the Coastway.

The Coastway, with its shallow draught and large loading capacity, has been designed to carry out on and foreshore beach replenishment, dredging and maintenance work in shallow water, which generally involves silt, sand, gravel and soft clay. Its jetwater installation allows for dredging of densely packed material. The Coastway is also prepared for the desalination of sand from sea. The adjustable dredge pump speed by a special type gearbox provides the control of the mixture speed and power.

Boskalis will deploy the Coastway primarily for dredging operations on short and medium-range distances. The Coastway, ordered by Boskalis in December 200, will be complete at the yard for commissioning and will be put to service by March 2002.