Dutch dredging specialist, Van Oord will name its first LNG-powered vessel, the Werkendam, on Saturday, April 14, during its 150th anniversary.

The Werkendam crane vessel is the first LNG-powered vessel, Van Oord said, marking the start of a new generation of dredging vessels.

The vessel’s name, the Werkendam draws from the company roots in the Werkendam and Biesbosch regions.

The Werkendam was built at the Neptune yard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, where the construction of the68-meter-long and more than 11-meter-wide crane vessel took 12 months.

The vessel is fully powered by LNG, with gas oil as a back-up, and with the storage tank on the aft deck, the Werkendam can store enough LNG on board to sail and operate for fourteen days without having to refuel.

The crane vessel will be used mainly for the execution of Dutch projects of the company’ss unit Paans Van Oord.

The first job for the Werkendam will be maintenance dredging and revetment works in the Rotterdam Europahaven.