The Costa-Verde: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

Van Oord's Spanish arm, Dravo S.A., is making waves with multiple long-term beach maintenance contracts aimed at bolstering coastal defenses while fostering tourism in Spain. The first phase of this year's beach replenishment initiatives has successfully wrapped up in the vibrant cities of Barcelona and La Pineda, located near Tarragona. Meanwhile, active projects are underway at Playa de Castillo on the picturesque Canary Island of Fuerteventura. Notably, these replenishment efforts are being executed with the aid of the newly acquired small trailing suction hopper dredger named Costa Verde, which was introduced to Van Oord's fleet earlier this year. Named after the stunning Asturian coast in northern Spain, Costa Verde boasts compact dimensions and a shallow draft, making it ideally suited for navigating the shallow waters and smaller harbors that characterize the Mediterranean region.

In a strategic move to enhance its operations, Dutch dredging leader Van Oord has acquired the 2,680 m³ trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) Contender from Abeko Marine, a company based in the Netherlands. This acquisition marks a significant addition to Van Oord's fleet of small TSHDs, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and efficiency in maritime projects.

On July 14, 2010, the vessel 'Mary Christina' encountered a mechanical failure while navigating the overseas port of Rostock. As the ship was about to pivot in the turning basin, strong winds caused it to drift towards a nearby sandbar at the Northern Breitling. The vessel ultimately grounded itself in shallow waters, with a depth of only 3.7 meters, despite its 5-meter draught. Fortunately, the tug 'Bugsier 16' came to the rescue, successfully refloating the ship and guiding it to the oil harbour. Once safely docked at berth 34, a diver conducted a thorough hull inspection. The 'Mary Christina', carrying a substantial 3,000 tons of barley, was originally en route to Rotterdam.