Successful naming and launch ceremony for VICTOR HORTA

 

The naming and launch ceremony for the 5,000m³ gravel trailer VICTOR HORTA took place on 15 December 2010 at the Verenigde Scheepswerf Heusden shipyard in Heusden, The Netherlands. IHC Merwede is building the ship for DEME Building Materials, part of the DEME Group (Dredging, Environmental and Marine Engineering NV). The ceremony was performed by Mrs Rachel Brett, the wife of Mr Bill Brett, Chairman of the Brett Group, a successful UK-based construction and building materials company.

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The contract for the design, construction and delivery of the vessel was signed on 16 May 2008 between DEME NV and IHC Dredgers BV. The keel was laid on 19 March 2010. The vessel is named after one of Belgium’s famous architects and pioneer of the Art Nouveau style. Victor Horta (1861-1947) designed several notable buildings, such as Hotel Tassel in Brussels, the first significant expression of Art Nouveau in architecture at the end of the 19th century. The commissioning of the new gravel trailer is expected to take place in 2011.

The VICTOR HORTA is suitable for the extraction of sand and gravel from the sea for the construction industry. Its design is based on the CHARLEMAGNE sand and gravel dredging ship supplied by IHC Merwede in 2002. With its powerful submersible pump, the VICTOR HORTA will be able to extract sand and gravel from a depth of 60 metres below sea level. The vessel is equipped with a state-of-the-art facility for dry discharge with a boom conveyor.

Additional information

Main features    

Name		VICTOR HORTA
Type		gravel trailer
Customer		DEME NV
Builder		IHC Dredgers BV
Lengh overall		99.9 m
Length between perpendiculars		92.5 m
Breadth		20.8 m
Depth		9.2 m
Draught at dredging mark		8.5 m
Dredging depth		40/50/60 m
Hopper capacity		5,000 m3
Suction pipe diameter		700 mm
Total power		5,990 kW
Speed		13.4 knots
Accommodation		15 people

Company profile IHC Merwede
IHC Merwede is focussed on the continuous development of design and construction activities for the specialist maritime sector. It is the global market leader for efficient dredging and mining vessels and equipment – with vast experience accumulated over decades – and a reliable supplier of custom-built ships and supplies for offshore construction.

IHC Merwede has in-house expertise for engineering and manufacturing innovative vessels and advanced equipment, as well as providing life-cycle support. Its integrated systematic approach has helped to develop optimum product performance and long-term business partnerships.
The company’s broad customer base includes dredging operators, oil and gas corporations, offshore contractors and government authorities.

IHC Merwede has over 3,000 employees based at various locations in The Netherlands, China, Croatia, France, India, the Middle East, Nigeria, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Technological innovation will remain the company’s underlying strength through its continuous investment in research and development. Moreover, it helps to safeguard a sustainable environment.

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