Suez Canal Expansion Plans Lift Dredging Firm Boskalis
Shares in Dutch marine services provider Boskalis jumped on Wednesday, a day after the Suez Canal unveiled a project to expand the southern stretch of the waterway.The Suez Canal Authority plans to expand and deepen its southern section, where a container ship became jammed and blocked traffic for six days in March, throwing international supply chains into disarray.Back in 2014, Egypt signed contracts with six international firms to carry out dredging of the Suez Canal, including…
Dutch Government Gives Shipbuilder IHC $435 Mln Lifeline
The Dutch government said on Thursday it is providing ailing shipbuilder Royal IHC with a lifeline of up to almost 400 million euros ($435 million), enabling the company's takeover by a consortium of marine companies and investors from Benelux countries.IHC had been looking for fresh capital since the summer of 2019 as it grappled with mounting debt and heavy losses on tailor-made ships.The company is to be taken over by Luxembourg-based investor HAL Trust and Belgian peer Ackermans & Van Haaren, together with Dutch dredgers Van Oord and equipment maker Huisman.Together these companies will pr
SPARTACUS: World’s Largest Cutter Suction Dredger Launched
On November 10, Royal IHC successfully launched the Spartacus, a 44,180kW self-propelled cutter suction dredger (CSD) designed and built for DEME. The ceremony took place at IHC's shipyard in Krimpen aan den IJssel, The Netherlands. It was performed by Mrs Fabienne Ackermans, the spouse of Mr Luc Bertrand (chairman of the Board of Directors of Ackermans & van Haaren, owner of DEME).Spartacus is reportedly the world’s largest CSD and the first to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The four main engines can run on LNG, marine diesel oil (MDO) and heavy fuel oil (HFO).
Antwerp Port Acquires NMP
Antwerp Port Authority is to acquire Nationale Maatschappij der Pijpleidingen (NMP) from its current shareholders Ackermans & van Haaren and Electrabel. With the takeover Antwerp Port Authority will gain ownership and control of 720 km of pipelines, 90% of which serve the chemical and petrochemical companies in the port of Antwerp and its hinterland. The Port Authority is paying 44 million euros for the NMP shares. “Pipelines are the ideal mode of transport for the chemical industry and oil refining,” explains Port Authority CEO Jacques Vandermeiren. “By giving them access to a pipeline network that is open to all users we gain on at least two fronts: we help to reinforce the presence in the port of this sector which is so important for the economy of Belgian and Flanders…
Hertel Offshore Renamed CKT Projects
Hertel has announced the acquisition of Hertel by Altrad for its worldwide access solutions, insulation, corrosion protection and mechanical businesses. Hertel Offshore was not part of the acquisition by Altrad, but will continue its activities and business with the same shareholders (NPM Capital, Ackermans & van Haaren and Hertel Offshore Management) under a new brand name. Hertel Offshore has now changed its name and will continue its business as per May 1, 2015 under its new name: CKT Projects.
SDI Christens Self-Propelled Cutter Suction Dredger
A vessel reported to be the most powerful self-propelled and ocean-going cutter suction dredger in the world was christened in Dunkirk, France. The 38,000 hp d’Artagnan is named after a character in Alexandre Dumas’ novel “The Three Musketeers.” Together with d’Artagnan, two auxiliary vessels, Aramis and Buckingham were also christened at the same ceremony. The three vessels will sail under French colors and are owned and operated by Société de Dragage International (SDI), the French subsidiary of Belgian Dredging, Environmental and Marine Engineering (DEME) Group. The importance of the event was revealed in the christeners of the naming ceremony. For d’Artagnan Mrs.
