The “Omvac Diez” is a split hopper dredger of 1.100m3, equipped with a 500mm trailing pipe for dredging at maximum of -30m. The in-board Damen dredge pump, type BP5045, both fills the hopper during trailing as well as empties the hopper using the bow coupling unit or rainbow nozzle. The dredger has various Damen dredging instrumentation systems, such as trailing pipe position, load & draught, density & velocity and vacuum & pressure measurement.
The 67m long split hopper dredger has been designed by the Spanish naval architect Carceller. It has been built in a relatively short time span by the Nodosa yard in Pontevedra on the Galician coast, of which it was their first new building of a split hopper dredger. The successful cooperation has resulted in an efficient, well-performing vessel with a maximum loaded speed of 9.5kn.
The split hopper dredger currently works with its removable grab crane, a Liebherr-type 984, situated at top coaming level. The versatile dredger is currently doing a maintenance job, and there are many more to come.