The Afonso de Albuquerque had the honour to be the first operational ULEv ever.

Marine

Innovation

With the Afonso de Albuquerque, Jan De Nul deploys the very first so-called ULEv dredger. ULEv stands for Ultra-Low Emission vessel. The innovative, sustainable vessel that received its baptism of fire in Quequén, Argentina, heads a whole new generation of low-emission vessels.

“This trailing suction hopper dredger is the first of a whole generation of environmentally friendly dredging vessels”, explains Marcelo Persichini, who as project engineer coordinates the maintenance dredging works in the ports of Quequén and Bahía Blanca.

“An ingenious system filters the exhaust gases before they are emitted. The filter eliminates the toxic substances and reduces the harmful emission to an absolute minimum. The diesel particulate filter extracts up to 99 percent of all particulate matter and soot particles from the exhaust gases."

The Afonso de Albuquerque was used for deepening the access channel and swing basin of the port. The ship will also be used for the multi-annual maintenance dredging works in this port and for other maintenance dredging works in Argentina.

Scoop within the shipping industry

Jan De Nul got the inspiration for its ULEvs in Switzerland. The Swiss tunnel industry played a pioneering role in filtering exhaust gases. To ensure that workers who are working in long tunnels breathe in clean air, the vehicles and machines are all equipped with an exhaust gas filter system. Jan De Nul succeeded in translating this technology to the shipping industry and in developing the innovative, pioneering ULEv solution internally.

Outperforming even the strictest standards

The Afonso de Albuquerque soon had company. Jan De Nul has already ordered the construction of seven ULEvs, with all new next generation vessels in our fleet being low-emission vessels.

Jan De Nul is the first dredging company in the world to launch dredging vessels that meet the most stringent European emission standards, such as the Stage V standards. These European Stage V emission standards for inland navigation vessels go a great deal further than the standards of the International Maritime Organisation. Because dredging vessels are mainly active in estuaries, close to the coast or in ports – often close to highly populated areas – Jan De Nul is committed to maximising the reduction of harmful emissions. We want to go beyond what is imposed by the shipping authorities. Far beyond.

“Our ULEv's have boosted our reputation as innovative pioneer."

Marcelo Persichini, Project Engineer