Prefabricated solutions by GF Piping Systems enable an efficient ship conversion for sand mining
Sand is an essential raw material for many industries and is used for concrete and asphalt production. Therefore, companies like Van Ouwerkerk BV have specialized in mining sand throughout extraction sites in the North Sea. The Dutch company’s latest addition to its fleet, the MS Zeeburg, uses the polyethylene solution ecoFIT by GF Piping Systems to provide long-lasting and corrosion-free jet lines for the dredging system.
After acquiring the MS Bente, a cargo vessel with a length of 90 meters, Van Ouwerkerk commissioned her conversion into the Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) MS Zeeburg. Extensive work was necessary, including hull modifications, enlarging the aft accommodations and, most importantly, installing the necessary dredging equipment. During the project, Van Koeveringe Kunststoffen was tasked with providing piping for the dredging system and decided to implement an HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) solution by GF Piping Systems for the new jet lines. Jet lines are used to inject water into the sand in order to loosen it prior to mining. This process is also necessary to later transfer the sand from the ship’s hold to an inland barge.
After equipping more than twenty ships with solutions by GF Piping Systems, Van Koeveringe Kunststoffen was able to quickly prefabricate various pipe sections, including custom parts for the tight spaces on board. In total, the company installed about 750 meters of HDPE ecoFIT pipes and covered dimensions from d63 to d355. ecoFIT now provides a number of important benefits for the mining company Van Ouwerkerk BV: As jet lines are constantly in contact with seawater, the HDPE pipes provide the necessary corrosion and temperature-resistance, allowing the MS Zeeburg to mine sand and seashells with a dredging system that is lightweight, long-lasting, and cost-effective. Throughout the project, GF Piping Systems supported Van Koeveringe Kunststoffen with technical support in areas such as bracket spacing and certification requirements.
ecoFIT is a lightweight polyethylene piping system designed to transport water and other media, and is corrosion-free as well as UV, weather, and abrasion-resistant. As a result, it is suitable for temperature ranges between -50 °C to 60 °C and has a service life of over 25 years, even in harsh environments.
