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Van Oord has ordered the construction of a new crane vessel which will also be the company's first to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Named the Werkendam, the vessel is being built by Neptune in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, Netherlands. Construction is expected to take approximately 12 months.

Once completed, the ship is to be mainly deployed to Netherlands-based projects carried out by subsidiary Paans Van Oord.

The Werkendam will be able to run on LNG with marine gas oil (MGO) as backup. With a 38-cubic-metre tank on the aft deck, the ship will be able to store enough LNG on board to sail and operate for 14 days without bunkering LNG.

Thanks to its 'smart' features, Van Oord says the vessel will use less fuel and emit less CO2 without compromising operational production. It is to be equipped with various sensors and energy storage systems. The sensors will monitor the energy consumption of almost all of the equipment and systems on board, which will even make it possible to store and reuse overcapacity - for example when operating the crane. The data produced by these monitoring systems will provide crew members with an insight into energy consumption, enabling them to respond appropriately.

Commenting on the company's fuel strategy for its ships, Jaap de Jong, Staff Director of the Ship Management Department at Van Oord, said: "Energy efficiency is one of the top items on our sustainability agenda. To reduce our carbon footprint, we are researching the use of alternative fuels, such as LNG and biofuel. With this investment, we will be gaining experience of LNG-powered vessels and the related benefits."

Specifications of the vessel have been provided below.

Length: 68.40 metres
Breadth overall: 11.40 metres
Hopper capacity: 700 cubic metres
Propulsion: 2 x 550 Kilowatts (kW)
Bow thruster: 450 Kilowatts (kW)
LNG-powered generator: 3 x 475 Kilowatts (kW)
LNG tank: 1 x 38 cubic metres
Spud poles: 2 x, electric-powered
Crane: -Type: four-rope grab crane
-Lifting capacity: 20 tonnes at 20 metres and 25 tonnes at 16 metres

Artist's impression of Van Oord's new LNG-powered crane vessel, the Werkendam.