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24 March 2010 IHC Merwede has simultaneously launched two IHC Beaver® 9029C cutter suction dredgers on Wednesday 24 March 2010. The vessels have been designed and built for one of the company’s large Chinese customers, Sinohydro, at Dutch shipyards by IHC Beaver Dredgers. ZHONG GUO SHUI DIAN* J08 was named and launched at the Sliedrecht shipyard, while its sister ship, ZHONG GUO SHUI DIAN J09, was named and launched at the Hardinxveld-Giessendam shipyard. The ceremony signified IHC Merwede’s ability to supply these custom-built vessels to the Chinese market. It also exhibited the level of advanced technology at its disposal and the control it enjoys over the manufacturing and assembly processes at the locations of its various business unit location in The Netherlands. The final products delivered to the customer in the coming months will benefit from the quality and efficiency that come as an integral part of every IHC Merwede vessel. This makes the 4,000m³/hr 13,000kW IHC Beaver® 9029C an extremely competitive package on a global basis, offering new opportunities and possibilities to Sinohydro. The cutter suction dredgers have the capacity to achieve high outputs at a relatively low cost. They can work to a depth of up to 29 metres and under challenging conditions with a wide range of soils. Sinohydro has invested heavily in this type of custom-built vessel for the execution of major dredging projects, such as the expansion of the Port of Karachi (Pakistan’s largest and busiest seaport). The IHC Beaver® 9029Cs are equipped with the latest dredging technology and features, including: • electrically-driven cutter and winches for dredging hard soils • use of Cutter Special® pumps, which combine a large sphere passage with high efficiency and suction performance • three dredge pumps (one submerged and single-walled, and two onboard and double-walled) of the same type • identical wear parts for each of the pumps (impeller, pump casing and wear plates) • engine rooms and onboard pumps at main deck level for easy access • identical cutter and underwater pump e-motors • wear-resistant material for onboard pipelines and dredge pumps • separate accommodation unit placed on vibration dampers for improved crew comfort.
IHC Merwede’s Area Manager for China, André Vrijsen says: “The ceremony was an opportunity for IHC Merwede to highlight its complete flexibility and how it can accommodate an order for two similar custom-built cutter suction dredgers. Unusually, these have been developed in unison to ensure that they will be completed on time and within budget. “We will always look at customers’ requirements before deciding on the best methods and locations to supply our products and systems. This approach gives us the option of manufacturing custom-built solutions at our traditional facilities in The Netherlands and standard vessels at our joint venture shipyard in China. “The ongoing communication between the two companies will help to assess the value to be gained from training and life cycle support. This will ensure that Sinohydro achieves maximum output at a minimal cost by keeping the dredger operational at all times.” Profile Sinohydro Sinohydro is a network of highly responsive companies with comprehensive solutions, from the concept and engineering, to the construction and manufacturing/installation of electrical and mechanical equipment. Its companies – all with strong local roots and close ties with local cultures – are covered by a management system that ensures overall consistency and cohesion. It focuses on four key areas for development, which are complementary to its core. Within the construction division, Sinohydro is an industry leader in the earthmoving sector, including dredging and reclamation activities to: provide landfill for deep water harbours; build container storage platforms, breakwaters and dykes; and reclaim land from the sea for construction sites. Profile IHC Merwede IHC Merwede is focused on the continuous development of its design and construction activities for the specialised shipbuilding sector, in particular the dredging and offshore industries. IHC Merwede is the world market leader in the construction of specialist dredging equipment. IHC Merwede is also recognised as an outstanding builder of complex, custom-built vessels for offshore construction. The clients of IHC Merwede include major dredging companies, oil and gas groups, offshore contractors and government authorities. IHC Merwede has a staff of over 3,000 at its locations in the Netherlands. The company also has operations in China, Croatia, France, India, the Middle East, Nigeria, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, the UK and the USA. * The similar names given to the two ships, ZHONG GUO SHUI DIAN J (08 and 09), literally translated means “land of the middle” (ZHONG GUO, i.e. China – sino), “water” (SHUI – hydro), “electric” (DIAN – hydro) and “cutter” (J, i.e. jiao). IHC Merwede press release 
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