Tridens joins select group of vessels installed with ‘drop keel’echosounder technology
Last week –right on schedule –the Dutch governmental shipping company Rijksrederij (part of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, Rijkswaterstaat) took delivery of its scientific research vessel Tridens after an extensive refit at Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam in the Netherlands. Tridens underwent a major midlife conversion to boost the vessel’s multifunctional capabilities for fisheries research, including installation of an innovative ‘drop keel’.
The Rijksrederij is the custodian of the North Sea and manages a fleet of specialist vessels. The maritime research institute IMARES, in collaboration with other European fisheries institutes, employs Tridens (73.5 metres in length and 14 metres beam) to help determine fish stocks in the North Sea, among other duties.
Tight project schedule
Looking to increase efficiency in employing the 25-year-old Tridens, the Rijksrederij developed a high-tech engineering package together with Damen Research, Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam and GNE BV Hardinxveld-Giessendam.
“We’ve worked with Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam over many years for maintenance, ”says Dirk Kuijt, Technical Manager at the Rijksrederij, “but this is the first time we’ve completed a refit of this scale and the first time we’ve installed a drop keel. The cooperation with Damen has been exceptional. It was a very big project for us and we had a very tight schedule. Tridens is departing immediately for survey trials and will shortly represent the Netherlands in a four-week joint European survey, so we were all under a lot of pressure. I’m very pleased with how Damen completed the project according to plan.”
No air bubble interference
During the refit, Tridens was fitted with a wide range of modern scientific research equipment, including the innovative drop keel with broadband multibeamechosounder installed by IJmuiden-based WNL Marine Electronics. With the new equipment, Tridens can accurately track biomass and fish shoals in the ocean as well as conduct bathymetric surveys.
Deployed up to 3 metres proud of the hull, the drop keel eliminates interference from the air bubbles that normally form around the hull and can affect the performance of the echosounders.
Researching the research ship
The Rijksrederij was eager to ensure the conversion project would deliver a highly effective and efficient solution. The meticulous planning before the conversion included detailed studies on board the Irish research ship Celtic Explorer, delivered by Damen in 2003.
Celtic Explorer is also fitted with a drop keel, however the installation on board Tridens was far from a simple ‘copy and paste’. Complex calculations were necessary to determine the most favourable arrangement of the (sonar) transducers within the drop keel to track shoals effectively.
Far-reaching consequences
Installing the drop keel also had far-reaching consequences for the rest of the vessel, requiring extensive engineering of the ship’s design and layout in order to accommodate the trunk –a kind of elevator shaft in which the drop keel is lowered.
The drop keel’s specialised engineering works lasted 27 days. But the extent of the project went much further. Making Tridens future-proof for another 10 years of demanding mobilisations required a complete refit and modernisation.
This part of the project saw Damen refurbish cabins for the crew, and overhaul the main engines, all propulsion equipment and the steering apparatus. The refit included completely replacing the stern gantry and winches and maintenance of the stern mast, booms, A-frame and the corners of the stern of the vessel. In addition, a dedicated device was developed for safe hauling of otter boards.
Ready to play its part
Following successful delivery on 2 March 2015, Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam can look back with pride on its largest refit project ever. Even with additions to the work scope during the project, Tridens was delivered on time.
The yard puts the successful project down to its professional craftsmanship and excellent cooperation with the Rijksrederij and suppliers. Tridens is ready to play its part in increasing efficiency in the Dutch government’s fleet while acquiring much needed data about our oceans.
Damen Shipyards Group
Damen Shipyards Group operates 32 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 8, 000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 5, 000 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers some 160 vessels annually to customers worldwide. Based on its unique, standardised ship-design concept Damen is able to guarantee consistent quality.
Damen’s focus on standardisation, modular construction and keeping vessels in stock leads to short delivery times, low ‘total cost of ownership’, high resale values and reliable performance. Furthermore, Damen vessels are based on thorough R&D and proven technology.
Damen offers a wide range of products, including tugs, workboats, naval and patrol vessels, high speed craft, cargo vessels, dredgers, vessels for the offshore industry, ferries, pontoons and superyachts.
For nearly all vessel types Damen offers a broad range of services, including maintenance, spare parts delivery, training and the transfer of (shipbuilding) know-how. Damen also offers a variety of marine components, such as nozzles, rudders, anchors, anchor chains and steel works.
In addition to ship design and shipbuilding, Damen Shiprepair & Conversion has a worldwide network of 15 repair and conversion yards with dry docks ranging up to 420 x 80 metres. Conversion projects range from adapting vessels to today’s requirements and regulations to the complete conversion of large offshore structures. DSC completes around 1, 500 repair and maintenance jobs annually.
“Jo”
