An overview of the complete Damen components delivery
High tech application of Damen dredge pumps and valves
Damen Dredging Equipment is well known for its deliveries of standard dredging components. Usually, deliveries of items such as dredge pumps and dredge valves are for hopper dredgers or cutter suction dredgers. Recent deliveries were for a more exotic use: the Damen dredge pumps and valves have been fitted in remote operated deep sea mining vehicles.
These deep sea mining vehicles, also called Seafloor Production Tools (SPTs), have been manufactured by Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD). This UK-based company designed and built three SPTs, each for a specific task. The first machine, the Auxiliary Cutter, is a preparatory machine that deals with rough terrain and creates benches for the other machines to work; Damen delivered an electrically driven dredge pump type BP45-1100 for it, plus a number of dredge valves. The second machine, the Bulk Cutter, is more powerful and has higher cutting capacity. Damen delivered another dredge pump and dredge valve set for that. The third machine is the Collecting Machine which collects the cut material and pumps it to the next station. For this Collecting Machine, Damen delivered a customised cutter unit, 3 electrically driven dredge pumps type E-BP2320 as well as a number of dredge valves.
The three SPTs were shipped in early February to a test site in Oman. There all systems will undergo wet testing. The first mining operations are scheduled for 2018, where the deep sea mining vehicles will be working in Papua New Guinea on Nautilus’ Solwara 1 copper-gold mining project.
Damen dredge pump type BP45-1100 with electric drive built on skid
The delivery crowns the cooperation between SMD and Damen which spans almost a decade. The engineering teams of both companies work closely together integrating Damen dredge pumps in the SMD trenchers. These high-tech trenchers are used for preparing the seabed before laying, for instance a cable or gas pipe line. The Damen engineering team adds its dredge pump and dredge pipe routing knowledge to the impressive ROV knowledge of SMD, which results in specialist remotely operated trenching vehicles operating worldwide.
Damen Dredging Equipment is proud that its standard components are a vital part of the world’s first state-of-the-art deep sea mining vehicles
Damen dredge valve adapted for use on the sea floor
About Damen Dredging Equipment:
Damen Dredging Equipment is a specialised supplier of dredging equipment and dredging instrumentation & automation. Fully owned by Damen Shipyards Group and based in Nijkerk, the Netherlands, the company has over 70 years of experience in the construction of dredging equipment serving the worldwide dredging industry. The dredging tools are all built to specific customer requirements, making use of a wide range of standard equipment.
More information can be found on www.damendredging.com
About Soil Machine Dynamics
SMD is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of remote intervention equipment, working in hazardous environments worldwide. The product portfolio includes the world’s largest range of subsea remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) such as work-class and specialist trenching vehicles; as well as marine renewable energy devices, subsea installation technologies and submerged mining equipment.
Final touch to the dredge pump unit
Customers span a range of sectors from energy (oil and gas, marine renewables and offshore wind infrastructure), to telecoms, mining, naval / military and scientific communities.
More information can be found on www.smd.co.uk
