In May of 2020, Royal IHC and Weeks Marine Inc. entered into a contract for the engineering and equipment delivery for the 6,540m3 TSHD R.B. WEEKS, currently under construction at the Allanton premises of Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Florida. Mid November the Dutch flagged MV Marsgracht set sail to deliver the equipment to the yard.
The R.B. WEEKS will be equipped with Royal IHC designed and built equipment, including the complete and highly efficient dredging installation, dredging automation and instrumentation, propulsion and main electrical system.
During the past year key components have been manufactured, assembled and shop tested in workshops all over the world. Part of the equipment package (35 sea containers and the suction inlet section) have been sent in 6 separate shipments to the USA already. In close collaboration with Weeks, it was decided that Royal IHC would consolidate the out of gauge equipment in one single shipment. This would limit the transport costs for barge and crane rental for either party.
On October 27th the IHC Dredge Equipment components were loaded on Lekstroom barge CHRISTINA and transported to the facilities of the Port of Rotterdam, Waalhaven. In the meantime, other truckable- equipment, supplied by IHC DBS and external suppliers from IHC Holland, were gathered in warehouses in Rotterdam area. Finally, on November 14th all the equipment was loaded on the MV MARSGRACHT, operated by dry cargo specialist Spliethoff, to set route towards to Panama City, FL. where it will be installed on board.
Source: Royal IHC