IHC Services Secures Dredger Repair Contract
HUTA 14 self-propelled cutter suction dredger at work (Photo: Royal IHC)
(Photo: Royal IHC)
IHC Services, a subsidiary of Dutch shipbuilder and repairer Royal IHC, informs it has secured an order for a renovation project for a dredging vessel owned by Huta Marine Works Ltd in Saudi Arabia.
The contract calls for work on the HUTA 14 self-propelled cutter suction dredger (SPCSD) to be carried out by IHC Middle East based in Dubai and the Service Operations department in The Netherlands for a renovation that involves the replacement of three large diesel engines, as well as the electrical installation for the underwater pump drive. Royal IHC is responsible for the engineering of the rebuild, purchase and delivery of the hardware, supervision during the installation and commissioning of the dredger after conversion.
“The vessel, built in 1986, has a total of four engines but one had already been changed by a previous owner,” said Robert Jonk, General Manager of IHC Middle East & India. “Two dredge pump engines are already out of order and require replacements, and the third engine is about to break down. The submerged dredge pump needs to be changed, and the current parts are now obsolete.”
IHC Services said the renovation will bring immediate benefits to Huta Marine Works, which specializes in dredging, marine infrastructure and harbor construction. Based in Jeddah, the company has a fleet of 15 CSDs, of which 12 were delivered by IHC. The new engines and dredge pump drive on the HUTA 14 will result in reduced downtime and enhanced efficiency.
“IHC Services was awarded the contract mainly as a result of good communication with Huta Marine Works, and effective cooperation between various departments and units within IHC,” Jonk explaind. “We have supported this customer on a number of other repair projects, and regularly supply spare parts.”
The contract will see four IHC staff members in Dubai involved in the project in addition to eight in Kinderdijk, The Netherlands. The hardware will be delivered to Jeddah in spring 2016, ready for installation.
IHC Services said it typically carries out approximately three renovation projects such as this per year. Following the success of this order, Jonk and his team believe there will be greater potential for further renovation and upgrading of other CSDs owned by Huta Marine Works.
