by Kyle Molyneux | Tue 01 Sep 2020
World’s largest backhoe dredger
Aberdeen Harbour Board has awarded two new contracts for rock removal and revetment work at the South Harbour expansion site, with a total value of £20m. The contracts have been awarded to Van Oord, the global maritime contractor which specialises in dredging, marine engineering, and offshore projects. The contract awards will see the completion of profile work for the harbour basin and add protection to sections of the shore in time for the coming winter. Part of the work will be carried out using the Goliath backhoe dredger, which is the world’s largest backhoe dredger. The Goliath has worked on large-scale port expansion projects around the world.
Michelle Handforth, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Harbour Board, said: “We are pleased to announce the award of these contracts to Van Oord, who have been heavily involved in the South Harbour expansion project for several years. As the most ambitious development for driving future trade and the largest marine infrastructure project underway in the UK, our Harbour expansion will ensure Aberdeen is a major hub for the maritime and energy economies of Scotland and the UK," he continued. "Aberdeen Harbour will open significant opportunities for the region, in both new and existing international markets. Work on site has made considerable progress despite the challenges faced by the COVID-19 pandemic, with 70% of construction work completed. It is an amazing sight to see one of the world’s largest dredgers working on our project, and I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the Harbour quickly taking shape.”
Joost van Duinen, Project Manager for Van Oord, said: “The expansion of Aberdeen Harbour is a significant project for Scotland, and we are proud to continue our involvement, having been part of the project since 2017. We look forward to working towards the completion of the expansion, utilising our world-class equipment, international experience and marine ingenuity.”
Manufactured from 2008, the Van Oord Goliath backhoe dredger is 68m long, 23m wide and boasts a dredging depth of up to 30m with a 23.8m boom, 15.5m stick and 10-cubic-metre bucket. The Goliath’s total power output is an astonishing 5,815hp.
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