Recent R&D activities

Technical innovation
New innovative 'ripper' draghead
During 2007, we continued to enhance our specially developed ‘ripper’ draghead design for dredging in rock, successfully using the technology in a large project at the Port of Salala in Oman. This technology, developed by us, allows a trailing suction hopper dredger to dredge rock that usually only a cutter suction dredger would be used for. The ‘ripper’ draghead can be used in more severe wave conditions than a stationary cutter dredger.
The technology will undergo further development in 2008 on a large project in the Port of Melbourne, where an area of soft rock needs to be dredged in the entrance of the bay. Severe environmental conditions in the area favor the use of the ripper head. The technology is further suited to projects such as this because hopper dredgers are maneuverable, and therefore represent less hindrance to passing port traffic.

Optimize control grade material
During 2007, we also began a new project to explore how to control the grade of material going into the designated ‘fill areas’ that dredging contractors are required to contain material within. As fill areas require sufficient strength and bearing capacity for construction purposes, the grading of the fill material is essential. To control this more precisely, we are exploring methods which enable us to control the distribution of fine material in the fill area, such as a specially designed spray system that minimizes the erosion of previously applied layers.
Currently at prototype stage, the approach could be ideal for use in a project such as Port Khalifa in Abu Dhabi, where the precise approach to controlling material in the fill area has an added environmental dimension, due to the close proximity of one of the largest coral reefs in the Middle East.

Enhancing performance cutter dredgers
2007 also saw substantial R&D work undertaken to help us calculate more precisely the forces required to operate our cutter dredgers, in terms of cutter drive and winch forces. This is highly relevant for our newbuilding plans for cutter dredgers, as it seeks to optimize the efficiency and performance of all components.
Further enhancing the performance of our cutter dredgers, we also continued to develop our prototype for a hollow cutter shaft, allowing a completely different cutter blade/suction nozzle configuration. This can considerably reduce the amount of spillages.

100 years of Boskalis

 

2010 is a special year for Boskalis, as we celebrate our 100th anniversary. Read more >>

Jubilee collection

Stylish clothing for water sports and leisure inspired by 100 years of history and Dutch maritime tradition.
To the webshop >>

Screensaver

Click here to download the screensaver with historical pictures of 100 years Boskalis.