Damen's LNG/MGO hybrid ready for work
Success for the switchover: a dredger has been converted to a dual-fuel unit running on LNG and MGO eighteen months after the contract was awarded. It was the first conversion of its kind in Europe. Damen delivered a turnkey package that included engineering, procurement and support.
As the Dragages-Ports’ "Samuel de Champlain" dredger previously ran on marine gas oil, the generators had to be changed to dual-fuel models and LNG storage facilities had to be installed. The project was complex and not without its challenges.
On 26 February, a presentation of the Samuel de Champlain project took place at Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque. The challenges that were encountered during the conversion were discussed at the event. The customer Dragages-Ports and the project's three main suppliers/subcontractors also spoke about their roles.
Following the final commissioning the "Samuel de Champlain" will return to its regular dredging duties on the Loire and Seine rivers. The conversion has been part of an EU-supported initiative to promote LNG propulsion in short-sea vessels operating along Europe's Atlantic coast. (kd)