The Netherlands: DEME – Naming of Ocean-Going Rock Cutter Dredge ‘Ambiorix’

Yesterday, the self-propelled cutter suction dredger ‘Ambiorix’ was named in the port of Rotterdam by Mrs. Marie-Claire van Haaren-Donnet, spouse of the late Paul van Haaren, managing director of Ackermans & van Haaren until 1981.

The Ambiorix is one of the most powerful and advanced cutter suction dredgers in the world and was built for the DEME Group at the IHC Merwede shipyard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, the Netherlands.

The contract for construction of this impressive vessel was signed between DEME and IHC Dredgers in the spring of 2010 and the keel was laid on 23rd December, 2010. The vessel was launched on 28th October, 2011.

The Ambiorix is able to dredge to a water depth of 35 meters and will be one of the most powerful cutter suction dredgers in the world. This new vessel is suitable for heavy soil and hard rock. The Ambiorix is equipped with two inboard dredge pumps and one submerged dredge pump on the cutter ladder.

It also has a barge-loading system, which can load barges moored alongside the dredger. The flexible spud carrier includes a spud force limiting system which enables dredging during challenging weather conditions. The dredging process is entirely touch screen operated. The dredge, furthermore, is equipped with a ‘remote-view’ system, enabling the permanent online view of its dredging process at DEME’s head office in Zwijndrecht.

The vessel was named after Ambiorix, who was leader of the Gallic people called the Eburones. With a cunning plan he defeated a Roman legion and 5 cohorts (7.200 soldiers) of Julius Caesar in 54 BC. This feat made Ambiorix into a Belgian hero – an icon of a brave warrior. The name Ambiorix fits perfectly with DEME’s tradition of naming vessels amongst others after historical or cultural national heroes, like Artevelde, Breughel and Breydel.

The new rock cutter dredge ‘Ambiorix’ is part of an important ongoing investment programme of the DEME Group. Earlier this year, the DP2 jack-up vessel ‘Neptune’ was commissioned to the Group. The new backhoe dredger ‘Peter the Great’ is conducting its trials and the special-purpose jack-up vessel ‘Innovation’ is still under construction. The latter vessel is built on behalf of HGO InfraSea Solutions, a joint venture company consisting of DEME’s marine construction specialist GeoSea and the German construction group Hochtief.