Damen Shipyards Group has delivered a Multi Cat 1908 to Saudi-based Murjan Al Sharq Marine Services, adding shallow-water dredging capacity to the abilities of the multi-faceted platform.

Damen has fitted the vessel out with a Damen DOP Submersible Dredge Pump 250.

Murjan Al Sharq Marine Services provides marine construction and maintenance, dredging, diving and subsea services. The company’s new vessel, called Murjan 40, has been equipped with a Damen DOP 250. This submersible dredge pump has a 1,250 m3/h capacity and can be deployed for sand mining and maintenance dredging activities.

Flexible dredger
Speaking at the vessel handover at Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld, chairman of Murjan Al Sharq Marine Services Abdullah Natheer said: “By adding a DOP pump to a Multi Cat, we instantly have a dredger – but a dredger which can also undertake the full range of tasks the Multi Cat can do as well.” Indeed, Damen’s Multi Cats are renowned for being able to take on an extremely broad scope of marine support duties for an equally wide range of maritime sectors.”

The Murjan 40 has also been installed with a spud system that can be deployed in water depths of up to 10 metres. This will make dredging operations considerably more straightforward as this removes the need for a complex, four-point mooring system. For operations in deeper waters, the spud system can be extended.

Shallow water solution

Dredging operations will be accomplished by lowering the DOP pump into the water with the Multi Cat’s crane or A-frame. The crane will also be used to handle the spuds.

With the vessel’s first contracts already finalised, Mr Natheer pointed to the benefits of combining the shallow draught of the Multi Cat with the dredging performance of the DOP pump. “Shallow water dredging usually requires a lot of very sophisticated, expensive equipment. A solution such as this represents a cost-effective alternative.”

First Damen vessel

“We can take on a wide range of specialist jobs with this vessel. We call this ‘surgical dredging’ because of the precision required,” continued Murjan Al Sharq Marine Services vice president Chris Clark. “What’s more, the versatility of the Multi Cat means that we can also use it for other jobs such as transportation, towage, dive support, pollution control, and anchor-handling.”

The relationship between Damen and Murjan Al Sharq Marine Services goes back to five years ago, when the two companies began talking about vessel options. “This continued when, three years ago, Kommer Damen paid us a visit – something that meant a lot to us,” said Clark. “And now, facilitated by Damen Customer Finance, we are pleased to have purchased our first Damen vessel.” – TradeArabia News Service