The world’s most powerful Cutter Suction Dredger Spartacus has received its 2500-tonne cutter ladder. The installation was performed by Heerema's deepwater construction vessel Aegir. Clearances during the installation process were at times no more than 24 millimetres.

The 164-metre long Spartacus will be the world’s first LNG-powered Cutter Suction Dredger built by Royal IHC for DEME.

24-millimetre Clearances

The Spartacus was towed from IHC’s shipyard in Kinderdijk to the Caland Canal while the cutter ladder was transported by barge. Here, the Aegir, the heavy lift crane of which has a lift capacity of 4000 metric tonnes, was waiting. 

First, the Aegir lifted the cutter ladder from the barge with its dual crane blocks. The Spartacus was then moved into position and moored alongside Aegir. The 57-metre long cutter ladder was carefully lowered into position by rotating the ladder as well as shifting the Spartacus. Clearances encountered during this process were as small as 24 millimetres. After the locking pins were engaged, the cutter ladder installation was completed. 

The Spartacus will now return to IHC for further construction activities. The Aegir will soon depart Rotterdam to execute other projects in the North Sea.