Houston-headquartered Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation has taken delivery of Cape Hatteras and Cape Canaveral – the first two Damen 3013 Multi Cats built in the U.S.
Steel was first cut for the boats at the Conrad Shipyard in Morgan City, La. in July 2021.
Fully compliant with U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stability criteria, the two identical vessels are outfitted to perform a wide range of tasks including handling submerged and floating pipelines as well as anchor handling and logistics supply.
Each of the 99-foot Multi Cats is powered by three EPA Tier 3 Caterpillar C32 TTA engines capable of delivering speeds up to 10.2 knots.
With a maximum bollard pull of approximately 32 short tons, the dredge support vessels are equipped with two large winches and two deck cranes thus eliminating the need for deploying assorted floating support equipment such as derrick barges, towboats, and anchor barges.
Addition of the two new vessels to the GLDD fleet “is a milestone for our company and the U.S. dredging industry,” said Chris Gunsten, Great Lakes’ senior vice president of project services and fleet engineering.
“The Multi Cat brings step change safety improvements to Great Lakes’ dredge pipeline operations, which was a prime driver for the investment,” he said. “Pipe handling and connection work can now take place securely on deck, which will greatly reduce the risk of crew members going overboard.”
The new cats, added Gunsten, “will also enhance and improve Great Lakes’ pipe and anchor operations,” he added.”Their two crane and multiple winch and wire tugger arrangements will significantly reduce manual work and the risk of soft tissue injuries and support our strong safety culture and gives us the ability to dredge with enhanced operating efficiencies.”