Press Release: Aggregate conglomerate Cemex orders next-generation marine aggregate dredger

PRESS RELEASE: Cemex UK has signed a contract to build a new Marine Aggregate Dredger as part of fleet renewal plans. On 19^th December in Southampton, Laurence Dagley, Director CEMEX UK Marine Limited signed a contract with Frank de Lange, Regional Sales Director of the Damen Shipyards Group for the delivery of the first Damen Marine Aggregate Dredger (MAD). The vessel, which will be built at Damen Shipyards Galati, in Romania, is designed to extract sand and gravel from the sea bed up to depths of 55 metres, including in the challenging conditions experienced in the North Sea.

The MAD is the result of extensive market research and customer consultation. A new, future-facing vessel of this type is aligned with an aggregate industry faced with an aging fleet of vessels and an increased focus on marine activity.

CEMEX UK is a leader in the building materials industry with over 3,000 employees, supplying aggregates, cement, concrete and other building solutions.

The company has a pre-existing relationship with Damen, having utilised the service of Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam for maintenance of their vessels. When approaching Damen, the client had a clear set of requirements, as Laurence Dagley, Director CEMEX UK Marine explains: “We wanted a cutting edge design, something for the 21^st century with all the safety, efficiency, environmental and on board comfort credentials this implies. Achieving a maximum uptime within what can be a challenging working environment is also important to us. Damen accepted the challenges that we gave them, delivering a robust yet innovative design that demonstrates the combined experience and ingenuity of our respective teams. Proudly wearing CEMEX colours, this new ship represents the start of our ambition to modernise our fleet over the coming years, to serve the increasing need for marine dredged aggregates in the UK.”

The MAD 3500 design has the optimal balance between payload and efficiency within limited dimensions. With a specific lock passage limiting the vessel’s overall length to 103.5 metres, a deadweight of just under 7,000 tonnes and a speed at loaded draught of approximately 12 knots are still achieved. In comparison to CEMEX’s current vessel, Sand Heron, which the new ship will replace, this translates into an additional 20% of aggregates that can be delivered per trip.

Cemex currently has a fleet of five vessels

Craig Eason

Craig Eason is the owner and editorial director of Fathom.World. He has a background in the shipping industry having started his career as a cadet on oil tankers and gas carriers before becoming a navigating officer on a range of vessel types. A change in career, with ensuing university studies, and he has now gained 20 years experience in written and broadcast journalism. He now is in demand as a knowledgeable and competent editor and event host and moderator, both for in-house events and ones for the public.