Naming and launch ceremony of state-of-the-art cutter suction dredger AL SAKAB

 

The naming and launch ceremony of the 16,500kW stationary cutter suction dredger AL SAKAB took place at the IHC Merwede yard in Sliedrecht, The Netherlands on Monday 5 October 2009. The ship is being built for HUTA Marine Works Ltd, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The ceremony was conducted by Britta and Sylvia Wuebbens, the daughters of Mr M. Wuebbens, Managing Director of HUTA Marine Works Ltd. According to the islam, rose water instead of champagne was used for the naming ceremony. The ship is named after the first horse Prophet Muhammad ever purchased. It means “smooth, swift like the flow of running water”.

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PHOTO 1	:	Fltr: Sylvia and Britta Wuebbens, Mr Bert Kips, managing director IHC Beaver Dredgers
PHOTO 2	:	Britta Wuebbens names the AL SAKAB
PHOTO 3	:	Sylvia Wuebbens launches the AL SAKAB
PHOTO 4	:	The AL SAKAB being launched
PHOTO 5	:	The AL SAKAB was launched successfully
PHOTO 6	:	The AL SAKAB was launched successfully

IHC Merwede and HUTA Marine Works signed the contract in early 2007 for the design, construction and delivery of the dredger and the keel was laid on 19 December 2008. The AL SAKAB is the first ever to be custom-built for HUTA Marine Works Ltd. It will be commissioned and added to the fleet in Jeddah early in 2010.

The dredger is a single-pontoon cutter suction dredger with a cutter ladder for a maximum dredging depth of 25m. Three identical cutter special dredge pumps are installed in the ladder and on board. The rock/soil are discharged to shore through a floating line at the aft of the vessel line or through the barge loading system on the sides of the vessel.

The dredger is held in position during dredging by a spud, around which it swings using anchors positioned on either side forward of the dredger. Forward motion is achieved with a hydraulically powered spud carriage situated at the aft end of the pontoon. The complete dredging cycle can be performed in automatic mode for ease of operation. A travelling crane has been installed on deck for access to all major parts on board. The AL SAKAB was built to Bureau Veritas rules and regulations.

HUTA Marine Works
HUTA Marine Works Ltd. has established itself as the leading Marine Contractor in Saudi Arabia.
With more than 6,000 employees and a fleet exceeding 90 marine construction vessels HUTA Marine covers the entire scope of marine civil engineering and dredging activities required for civil, commercial and industrial marine infrastructure works.
HUTA Marine currently operates a fleet of 11 Cutter Suction Dredgers from 4,000 to 22,000HP with a production capacity of 30 to 40 million m³/year. They are capable of dredging the hardest rock that may be encountered in the Middle East.

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 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 exploration groups, offshore contractors and government authorities.
IHC Merwede has a staff of approximately 2,800 at its locations in the Netherlands. There are also branches in China, India, the Middle East, Nigeria, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.


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For more information on IHC Merwede please contact:

IHC Merwede B.V.
Mrs. Renée van Krimpen-Baudesson
T +31 184 411555
M +31 62 229 13 29
pr@spam-preventionihcmerwede.com

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