BERLIN: Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) has put the flexible new, custom-built dredger ‘Modi’ into service and ordered new icebreakers as part of a fleet modernisation programme.
The 35m long and 13m wide Modi is for operation to 23m depths and will remove sediment in parts of the German port which are difficult to reach with conventional equipment. The dredge is mounted on a self-driven pontoon with adjustable stilt legs for location manoeuvering.
The new unit joins a bucket dredger already in service in the Port of Hamburg and is a modified Liebherr cable grab dredger specially built for HPA by Dutch shipyard Ravestein BV. HPA’s Martin Boness told Maritime Journal the Dutch won the job after all EU shipyards were invited to tender but he gave no further indication why the yard was chosen.
HPA chief Wolfgang Hurtienne said sediment management was one of the central jobs of the Authority. About five million m3 of sediment were deposited in the port every year, he said.
The Type Liebherr HS 8100 HD Modi dredge combination is driven by a D 865 A7 SCR motor of 390kW and is capable of round-the-clock operation with a crew of 3-4. The HPA said it cost about €5 million and Ravestein MD David Ravestein was quoted as saying it was the first order of its kind from the HPA for the Dutch yard.
Expected into service with HPA next year – perhaps even as early as later this year according to some German reports – are the first of a possible four new multi-purpose icebreakers for port service.
The Authority has placed firm orders for two icebreakers at experienced tug/icebreaker building specialist Hitzler Werft in Lauenburg and secured options for two more. They will replace four older units and will be in three different sizes according to tender details
The two firmly ordered icebreakers will replace existing all-round workhorses Christian Nehls and Hafenbau 2. They will be about 18m long, 6.20m wide and draw 2,25m. One of the two secured options, replacing Hugo Lenz, would be for a boat of about 23.19m length and about 7m width drawing about 2.5m while the second option, to replace Johannes Dalmann, would be thebiggest of the quartet at 30m long and 8.5m wide drawing 4m.
The new workhorses will have diesel-electric propulsion with engines reportedly from MAN. The reports also said the HPA had set aside some €15.3 million in its budget for their acquisition.
The Port of Hamburg service boat fleet is currently put at about 30 units serving under their own power as well as the two dredgers and more than 40 barges.
