Ortelius latest addition to Jan De Nul fleet

The new trailing suction hopper dredger Ortelius draws the card of air quality and filters exhaust to an unseen minimum in the shipping industry. A feature specific to Jan De Nul Group's new generation of vessels. The identical sister ship Sanderus has been at work on the Scheldt in Belgium since February 2020.

Ortelius is the fifth trailing suction hopper dredger delivered by Keppel O&M to Jan De Nul Group. Earlier, three smaller hoppers with a hopper capacity of 3,500 m³ came into service and the Ortelius succeeds her sister ship with a hopper capacity of 6,000 m³. All five vessels have extremely low emissions thanks to the specific Jan De Nul filter system on board. 

Built to the requirements of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) EU Stage V and Tier III regulations, the Ortelius is diesel-electric powered and can dredge to a maximum depth of 35 m. The vessel has a shallow draft, is highly maneuverable and suitable for working in places with very limited maneuvering space.

Robby De Backer, Director Newbuilding Department at Jan De Nul Group "Thanks to our new generation of hoppers, such as the Ortelius, we are carrying out dredging projects at the lowest possible emission rates. Our teams worked closely with the Keppel shipyard teams to overcome the challenges of COVID-19 and expedite the delivery of the Ortelius. We are proud to work with industry leader Keppel, whose technical expertise and excellent service ensure the safe delivery of high-quality vessels."

Tan Leong Peng, Managing Director (New Builds) at Keppel O&M: "The delivery of a fifth dredger testifies to Keppel O&M's newbuilding capabilities and technological expertise. Our cooperation with Jan De Nul has become ever closer and, thanks to a holistic construction method, we were able to deliver all five dredgers with extremely low emissions in a safe and efficient manner. In dealing with COVID-19, we have implemented safe management measures, optimized operations and diversified our supply chain so that we have been able to catch up with the accumulated work backlog in a safe and efficient manner."

New ships with focus on improved air quality 

The latest generation of Jan De Nul ships is leading the way in the shipping industry. They are betting on after-treatment of combustibles, which is the key to better air quality in the industry. 

Without aftertreatment, internal combustion engines emit harmful exhaust gases. Ships equipped with the advanced filter system do not. The catalytic converter renders nitrogen oxides harmless and the particulate filter stops the finest particles. In other words, no more air pollution and harmful particulates that have a direct impact on our health and living environment.

Jan De Nul Group's ships with extremely low emissions are striving for ever better air quality.