Van Oord, a family-owned company with a strong commitment to sustainability, has implemented a comprehensive sustainability program called S.E.A. – Sustainable Earth Actions. This program reflects the company’s long-term vision and its dedication to minimizing environmental impact, reports Damen.
Sustainable Earth Action
Van Oord’s sustainability program focuses on four key pillars: enhancing the energy transition, accelerating climate action, empowering nature and communities, and achieving net-zero emissions. To achieve its net-zero emissions goal, Van Oord is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by 35% by 2030 compared to 2023, aligning with the EU Green Deal’s 1.5-degree science-based limit.
Further ambitions include achieving zero SOx emissions and an 80% reduction in NOx emissions by 2050 compared to 2019 levels. Driven by these environmental goals, Van Oord sought solutions to reduce its environmental impact and reached out to Damen.
In 2014, Damen delivered the Nexus to Van Oord, a DP2-capable Offshore Carrier designed for the offshore wind industry. This 122.68 x 27.45-meter vessel features a cable carousel with a capacity of over 5,000 tonnes. The offshore wind sector is increasingly focused on sustainable operations, particularly the reduction of NOx emissions in coastal areas where vessels like the Nexus operate.
Recognizing this industry trend, Van Oord explored potential solutions to align the Nexus’s operations with its sustainability goals.
Nexus Installation
André emphasized that the Nexus project leveraged the diverse expertise and capabilities across the Damen Shipyards Group.
He highlighted the collaborative effort, stating, “The Nexus installation was a great example of the synergy to be found within Damen. The Marine NOx Reduction System is produced at our headquarters in Gorinchem, the Netherlands, the engineering was performed by Damen Engineering Gdansk in Poland, and the project was executed at Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam (DSAm).”
André further emphasized that this in-house expertise allowed Damen to offer Van Oord a comprehensive solution for their needs.
Hein Leemhuis, Van Oord’s Manager of project Fleet, echoed this sentiment, stating that Damen’s ability to provide a one-stop-shop solution for the entire project was a key factor in their decision to select Damen for this undertaking.
Work Scope
The installation of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems on the Nexus necessitated a complete refurbishment of the vessel’s funnel. Damen replaced the original steel funnel with stainless steel to withstand the corrosive effects of urea. The yard also installed an additional platform in the engine room to accommodate the urea dosing units.
An existing tank was thoroughly cleaned, blasted, and treated for the storage of urea. Furthermore, extensive pipework was installed to connect the urea tank to the funnel. While the Nexus was in dock, Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam also conducted maintenance work on the vessel’s thrusters.
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Source: Damen
