It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Friday, July 28, 2023
VisuDREDGE on DC Dredging Vessels for Visualization of Dredging Process
Visualization of dredging is essential to gain insight into the dredging process. But this is only the beginning of the whole dredging story. To complete that story, we meet with Diederik van Halsema of DC Dredging today. He is the fleet manager of the entire DC Dredging fleet, including the vessels DC Ostend, Margaret Ann and Rio. These vessels have a lot of things in common, including MSA- Service's VisuDREDGE dredge visualization system, which is installed on each of these three vessels. In this article he explains what detailed insights into the dredging activities are provided and which developments will make the reporting of the dredging process even better. Introduction: the vessels
First, a brief introduction to the dredging vessels. What exactly are we talking about? Diederik explains: ‘The big difference between the DC Ostend, Margaret Ann and Rio is the type of ship. Margaret Ann is an inland vessel and with its 9 meters the narrowest of the three. DC Ostend is unique because this ship can also suck up gravel. A wear-sensitive and intensive process. The abrasion of the dredging plant on a gravel hopper dredger is three times higher than on a normal trailing suction hopper dredger. Cycle times for gravel hopper dredgers are also different from those of the sand dredger’s dredging process because they are longer. Consequently, a lot can be gained from good reporting. Based on this, we carry out analyses and we can optimize the dredging process.’
Pay off: Visualization of the dredging process is essential ‘Although dredging is more of a hobby for me than work, it is important that the work pays off,’ Diederik continues. ‘First, we use VisuDREDGE to visualize and log the data. We then process this data in Excel in order to extract analyses from it to optimize the processes. In the dredging sector you mainly work under water. It is therefore all the more important for our sector to have accurate information about the dredging process, which after all is our business. That visualization can also easily be made with VisuDREDGE’.
Diederik continues: ‘In addition, we also work a lot for governments. We are currently working with the ship Rio on beach nourishment for the Belgian government. We are expected to be able to accurately display how much we dredge, and this implies a complex measuring method. A technique that MSA-Service masters well and displays in an appealing way on the screen on the bridge. As we can accurately display this information, the authorities can, if required, closely monitor our activities.’
VisuDREDGE: ‘Appealing visualization of important parameters’ Diederik started at DC Dredging five years ago. The systems that ran on the dredgers were outdated. ‘I know MSA-Service from the time I worked for Van Oord and Boskalis. I am pleased about the quality of the systems they provide. When I saw VisuDREDGE, I was immediately interested. I especially liked the customization options. Depending on the equipment on board of the ship, the visualization is fully customizable. The screen displays all parameters that are important to us in an appealing way.’
Unique data insights: better for the people on board and for the management Diederik sees lots of opportunities to improve the dredging industry even further: ‘Currently, the dredging sector is still working a lot with logs and exports to Excel which is already an improvement compared to the past, when everything was still entered manually. Yet, entering and merging information manually is still rule rather than exception - a job prone to error, while a system like VisuDREDGE can already be easily combined with programs that run automatic analyses, such as Multiped.’
Diederik adds: ‘These exact analyses are of enormous added value in making the dredging process effective. This method relieves the work of the people on board and gives a better insight to the management. First, about the people on board: they simply find all the administration and reports related to the dredging activities tedious. And there are already tools available that can take over this work. As far as I'm concerned, we should embrace those opportunities as soon as possible so that the people on board have time to do what they really do best. Combine this data with real-time information and we are talking about true innovation.
About the management, the use of VisuDREDGE provides a good insight into the performance of the ship. The way in which data analyses can be done with this system is unique and certainly also provides a better insight into the performance of the people on board and ultimately of the entire company.’
The products and services herein described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.
Army Corps Awards Contract for Design and Construction of New Dredge
The Dredge McFARLAND is one of four oceangoing hopper dredges owned and operated by the Army Corps of Engineers.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has awarded Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. of Panama City, FL, a contract worth $256.9 million for the design and construction of a Medium Class Hopper Dredge (MCHD) to replace the Dredge McFARLAND of the Corps’ Philadelphia District.
The Dredge McFARLAND is one of four oceangoing hopper dredges owned and operated by the Army Corps of Engineers.
The new MCHD will play a critical role in enabling the Corps to continue to deliver its navigation mission and provide for safe, reliable, effective, and environmentally sustainable waterborne transportation systems for vital national security, commerce, and recreation needs. The new dredge is estimated to be placed into service in 2027 and replaces the 57-year-old McFARLAND.
The products and services herein described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.
Biden Uses Steel Cutting of Wind Vessel to Promote Offshore Energy Progress
Biden speaking at Philly Shipyard to mark construction of the first rock installation vessel for the U.S. wind industry (Business Network for Offshore Wind)
President Joe Biden visited the Philly Shipyard in Pennsylvania to attend the steel-cutting ceremony for the first U.S. rock installation vessel being built for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. to support the burgeoning offshore wind power industry. Biden used the visit to the shipyard to also highlight the advancements in the U.S. offshore wind industry and announce the next lease auction, the first to be conducted for the Gulf of Mexico.
During his speech, the president highlighted that companies have announced 18 offshore wind shipbuilding projects as well as investments of nearly $3.5 billion across 12 manufacturing facilities and 13 ports to strengthen the American offshore wind supply chain. The vessels range from the first Jones Act-compliant installation vessels to a SOV, and crew transfer vessels. They are being built at shipyards ranging from Florida to Louisiana, New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
The visit was timed to coincide with the construction of Arcadia, a 461-foot long vessel that becomes the first offshore wind rock placement vessel and will be used by Great Lakes Dredge & Dock to enter the offshore wind sector. The vessel was designed by Ulstein and the construction contract, which is valued at $197 million, was awarded to Philly Shipyard in November 2021 along with an option for a second vessel.
The Subsea Rock Installation Vessel is designed to carry up to 20,000 metric tons of rock and will transport and strategically deposit the material to the ocean bottom, laying a foundation for the monopiles which serve as the prevailing support structure for offshore wind turbines. Delivery for the first vessel is expected in Q4 2024, and if awarded the second would be delivered in Q4 2025.
Biden was shown a model of the rock installation vessel being built at the yard (Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp.)
Biden toured the shipyard and used the visit to highlight new data that shows there are more than 4,100 companies in all 50 states that are looking to support the U.S. offshore wind industry. He said the industry already includes nearly 1,500 contracts for work.
Installation of the offshore foundations is now underway for the first two large, commercial-scale wind farms in the United States. Located off New York and Massachusetts both are targeted to complete construction by the end of this year while the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has moved forward with the review of the next two Construction and Operation plans. BOEM reports that it expects to review at least 16 Construction and Operation Plans for offshore wind farms by 2025, which would represent more than 27 GW of energy.
Biden and BOEM also today announced the next wind energy lease auction, which will be the first for the Gulf of Mexico. The areas will be auctioned on August 29 and will have the potential to generate approximately 3.7 GW and power almost 1.3 million homes. One area is over 102,000 acres offshore of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Two other areas are offshore Galveston, Texas comprising a total of approximately 200,000 acres.
In less than a year, BOEM has conducted lease auctions for the New York Bight, Carolina Long Bay, and northern and central California. BOEM has also completed another step in reviewing a potential offshore wind research lease in the Gulf of Maine and is moving forward with plans for a lease area off the coast of Oregon.
Biden has committed the United States to 30 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030.
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