Dredging & Mining
IHC Merwede is the undisputed market leader in the world in respect of building advanced and specialised dredging vessels. Almost all large hydraulic engineers work with vessels and mechanical instruments developed by IHC Merwede. Whether it involves small or large trailing suction dredgers, stationary or self-propelled cutter suction dredgers, specialist machinery for the mining or mineral extraction industries, our vessels do their work all over the world. Our technological products are used by our clients for various projects: land reclamation, coastal protection, sand extraction from the sea and making and maintaining worldwide ports and rivers navigable. However, deep sea mining is also important. Extracting minerals far below sea level is necessary to fulfil the increasing demand for raw materials.
Technology & Services
IHC Merwede has built hundreds of vessels and machinery in the last few years. With all the experience we have gained, we have built a tremendous wealth of expertise in the shipbuilding industry and specialist areas in which our vessels operate; dredging and offshore. Technology & Services plays an important role in improving and renewing technically IHC Merwede’s products. The R&D departments carry out investigations into more effective and efficient ways of dredging and offshore work. They search answers to current and future questions: how can we dredge at greater depths? What are the smartest techniques that will enable us to build offshore wind parks at sea? Based on the new insights gained, the specialised business units of Technology & Services are working on the design and development of, for example, dredging pumps, operating mechanisms for naval bridges, hydraulic or pipe lay techniques. In addition to these specialist products, our clients will also receive services by means of Life Cycle Support. In this way, the lifespan of the products can be extended, enabling IHC Merwede to contribute to the sustainability of its clients’ products.
Offshore & Marine
IHC Merwede support its clients in the market with new offshore techniques. This does not only apply to energy generation at sea for fossil energy carriers but also to new energy sources such as wind energy. The Offshore & Marine division develops and builds construction vessels and machinery that are used, for example, for installing pipeline systems at the bottom of the sea, assisting diving operations, tapping into new energy sources, placing new windmills, supplying the equipment for subsea digging activities and specialist handling systems for the maritime market. With regard to all these various projects, IHC Merwede strives as much as possible to combine and integrate systems and techniques.