Damen Group Awarded Contract to Build Dredger for UK’s Largest Port Operator

29th April 2026

Jehan Ashmore

A rendering of Damen’s in-house designed trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) to be built for UK Dredging, which is a subsidiary of ABP, the UK’s largest port operator. Credit: Damen

A Dutch shipyard has signed a contract with UK Dredging (UKD), a subsidiary of Associated British Ports (ABP).

Damen Shipyards Group has signed the contract with the UK’s largest port operator to build a trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD).

The agreement represents an important milestone in the long-standing collaboration between the shipyard and the two UK-based organisations.

The new 60m vessel is based on Damen’s TSHD 1000 design, customised to meet UKD’s specifications. It will be fitted with a diesel-electric propulsion system incorporating an energy storage system.

An electric grab crane and an exhaust after-treatment system for the ultra-low-emission vessel (ULEV) with feature-selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and diesel particulate filters (DPF). This is to align the newbuild with the latest environmental standards in the maritime industry.

Construction will take place at the Ha Long Shipyard, Hanoi, in Vietnam, and the newbuild is expected to be ready for delivery in 2028 and start maintenance duties in ports across the UK.

The newbuild is to be registered at Cardiff, Wales, where UKD has its head office with an operational office based in Hull, England.

Published in Dredging

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About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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