Damen Shipyards Group has signed a contract with Onego Shipyard to build a trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) 2000. The vessel will be built by order of Russian state-owned maritime transport firm Rosmorport in Petrozavodsk, north-west Russia.

Construction of the TSHD 2000 will involve Damen Technical Cooperation, the service the company provides to facilitate shipbuilding operations at a local yard of the end-client’s choosing. In this instance, Damen will provide the design and materials package to Onego Shipyard, and will also offer any necessary assistance during the build process.

Damen has worked with Rosmorport to identify some additional design requirements to the new vessel, including a self-emptying system for bow discharge.

“We can always accommodate client modifications to our vessel designs,” says Damen sales manager, Marc Tijssen. “After all, our clients have the operational experience in their particular working environment. We use that valuable information to optimize our designs in order to meet those specific needs.”

After delivery in 2019, the new vessel will be used to carry out maintenance operations in the northern region of Russia. This will be sixth Damen dredger in Rosmorport’s fleet. Last year Rosmorport was handed over another Damen TSHD 2000 – the Severnaya Dvina.