Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger design will be tailored for the Congo River, with upgraded bow thruster capability, greater autonomy and advanced automation
Royal IHC has secured a contract with La Congolaise des Voies Maritimes/The Congolese Maritime Authority (CVM) for the delivery of an Easydredge 2700XL trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD).
The vessel will be customised to meet CVM’s specific operational requirements, with enhancements designed to improve performance in challenging riverine environments. These include increased operational autonomy, upgraded bow thruster and propulsion power, expanded accommodation capacity, and advanced automation systems.
“We are very pleased to have signed the building contract with Royal IHC for this trailing suction hopper dredger. This new vessel is essential in maintaining navigability along the Congo River, ensuring that we keep the strategic ports of Boma and Matadi accessible. This step sends a strong signal to the maritime operators involved in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s international trade, who will now have the opportunity to conduct their business in an environment that offers all the necessary advantages,” said Ms. Jeanne Blandine KAWANDA WALWOM, Director General of La Congolaise des Voies Maritimes.
Bert Jan ter Riet, COO of Royal IHC comments: “This contract underscores Royal IHC’s commitment to strengthening local dredging capacity within the region. It also fits our strategy for Africa, where we see ports striving for autonomy and a rising interest in dredging.”
Royal IHC will deliver a comprehensive service package to support CVM throughout the first year of operation—including planned maintenance software, technical support, experienced crewing, and operational training—ensuring optimal performance from day one.
The trailing suction hopper dredger will be built at their partner yard Nam Trieu in Vietnam, as part of their shipbuilding strategy of offering customers a wider range of choices, with the same reliability and quality level.
The Easydredge 2700XL is part of Royal IHC’s proven range of standardised hopper dredgers, designed to combine cost-efficiency, adaptability, and ease of operation. With a hopper capacity of approximately 3,300 m³, the vessel is tailored for maintenance dredging and land reclamation projects, offering a robust and versatile solution for La Congolaise des Voies Maritimes.
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