Damen launches Marine Aggregate Dredger for Hanson

Damen Shipyards has launched a Marine Aggregate Dredger (MAD) 3500 at its Galati yard in Romania. It’s being built for UK-based Hanson who will use the vessel to conduct offshore aggregate extraction in water depths up to 55 metres in the North Sea and English Channel.

Following the launch, Damen will complete work on the vessel, to be named Hanson Thames, and afterwards undertake commissioning, including of dredge equipment and screening installation from Damen Dredging Equipment in the Netherlands and a dry unloading system from PLM Cranes.

The MAD 3500 model, Damen says, specifically aims to achieve the optimal balance between payload and efficiency within the limited dimensions required for the vessel to traverse the Shoreham Lock on the English south coast.