The UK's second largest port operator has welcomed a new energy efficient LNG dredger for the first time as it continues to improve the sustainability of its dredging work.

The Peel Ports Group has used Dutch marine contractor Van Oord’s groundbreaking Vox Apolonia for maintenance dredging of the Port of Liverpool and King George V Dock in Glasgow.

It is the first time the LNG trailing suction hopper dredger has been used at any of the group’s ports, and only the second time it has carried out work in the UK
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The Vox Apolonia uses liquefied natural gas (LNG) and has a significantly lower carbon footprint than conventional trailing suction hopper dredgers. The use of LNG reduces nitrous oxide emissions by 90 per cent, as well as totally eliminating sulphur emissions.

Peel Ports Group – which is committed to being a net zero port operator by 2040 – first welcomed the vessel to the Port of Liverpool this month, before it carried out work in Glasgow, and returned for further work at its site in Liverpool.

At the same time, Van Oord also provided its new hybrid water-injection dredger Maas to the port, bunkered for the first time with a biofuel blend. The company estimates she currently emits 40 per cent less CO2e than her predecessor whilst dredging for the port group in Liverpool.

It comes as the firm supplied four separate vessels to carry out important dredging of the Liverpool channel and docks at the same time.

Garry Doyle, Group Harbour Master at Peel Ports Group, said; “We are always looking for ways to reduce our impact on the environment across our port estate. We are striving to become net zero across the group by 2040, and the Vox Apolonia is a step ahead in terms of its sustainability credentials.

“Maintenance dredging is vital to both support the functioning of our ports, and to provide a safe navigation for vessels passing through our waters.

“It’s important to us that we use methods that are as energy efficient as possible to do this work, and that’s why we chose the Vox Apolonia for this important project.”

Marine Bourgeois, Project Manager at Van Oord, said: “We're constantly researching and investing to bring our fleet to the next level in terms of sustainability. We have our own commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and the Vox Apolonia is the next step towards that goal."

“It's been great to work with Peel Ports on this project. They are always open to collaborate in our initiatives to provide greener and more efficient dredging solutions. We are proud to bring our marine ingenuity in support of their goal to be net zero by 2040."

Maintenance dredging involves the removal of sediments that have built up in existing channels, berths, approaches, and associated swing basins. The work helps maintain a safe depth of water for vessels passing through its ports.

A Dutch marine contractor are about to begin work on a Capital Dredging campaign at Dublin Port in order to create two new riverside berths.

As disclosed by Dublin Port Company, the contractor Van Oord, reports DredgingToday, intends to carry out loading and dumping at sea of dredged material arising from capital dredging as part of the MP2 Project over the period October to December 2022.

The MP2 Project (website) is as Afloat reported is the second Strategic Infrastructure Development Project to be brought forward for planning from Dublin Port’s Masterplan 2040, reviewed 2018. An Bord Pleanála granted Planning Permission for the MP2 Project on 1st July 2020 (ABP-304888-19).

The areas to be dredged during the 2022 campaign all lie within Dublin Port and comprise the creation of the new Berth 52 and Berth 53, and localised widening of the navigation channel in the vicinity of the Poolbeg Oil Jetty.

The dredged material – consists of a mixture of clay, silt, sand, gravel and cobbles – will be disposed of at the existing licensed offshore disposal site located at the entrance to Dublin Bay to the west of the Burford Bank, (6.75 km from the lighthouse at the end of the Great South Wall).

Dredging will be carried out using a combination of a backhoe dredger and a trailer suction hopper dredger together with support vessels.