Emerald Duchess “Future-Proofed” to Allow for Carbon Neutral Operations
PD Ports, one of the UK’s leading port and logistics operators, is investing £23 million in a new dredging vessel.
The 71-metre-long Emerald Duchess, designed and built by Dutch shipbuilder Neptune to an “exacting specification”, PD Ports said, is due to arrive at Teesport in North Yorkshire in mid-2024 pending trials in the Netherlands.
The dredger, which will have the capacity to carry 2,500 tons and hold up to 2,000 cubic meters of dredged material, will replace the Cleveland County, which has served the River Tees under PD Ports’ conservancy team for 50 years.
“The Emerald Duchess represents a major investment in our conservancy operations as SHA and shows our high level of commitment to the socio-economic development of the River Tees and the wider region,” said Frans Calje, chief executive officer of PD Ports.
According to PD Ports, the vessel has been “future-proofed” with several bespoke design features that will eventually allow carbon neutral operations.
An intelligent power management system will enable the dredger to shift its power source from a battery pack equivalent to 10 Tesla cars and fuel made from hydrotreated vegetable oil, or HVO, a type of renewable diesel.
A refined hull designed using computational fluid dynamics will minimize fuel use, while hatches above the engine room will allow power units to be swapped for modern fuel cells as the technology matures, using methanol or ethanol fuel.
“The vessel is a step ahead in terms of crew safety and sustainability and will strongly support our commitment to becoming a carbon neutral operation, using low emission fuel and an innovative layout to make it more fuel efficient,” Calje said.
“Every investment we make is targeted to keep our environmental impact to a minimum, while also supporting the growth and success of the region and the commercial operators who rely on the river. I look forward to the Duchess’ arrival on our shores next summer,” the executive added.
PD Ports owns and operates ports along the UK’s east coast, including Teesport, the sixth largest in the UK and the only major port in the country to handle more exports than imports. The company also offers a wide range of logistics services including warehousing, freight forwarding, chartering, stevedoring and onward distribution.
PD Ports will be exhibiting at Breakbulk Europe 2023, taking place on 21-23 May at Rotterdam Ahoy.
