GIE Dragages-Ports has inked along-term service contract (LTSA) with MAN PrimeServ for provisional eight-year period for a dual-fuel dredger operated by the French port of Nantes Saint-Nazaire.
The LTSAincludes the supply of spare parts and provision of preventative maintenance services for MAN 35/44 dual-fuel engines,inspection kits as well as remote assistance (PrimeServ Assist) and engine-fluid analysis (PrimeServ LAB).
The 117m-longSamuel de Champlain dredgerbelongs to GIE Dragages-Ports, whichowns a fleet of seven dredgers,operating in eight major ports along France’s Atlantic, English Channel and North Seacoastlines.The largest of the dredgers is the 8,500 m³Samuel de Champlain.
Three years ago, the vessel was converted to LNG, which involved replacing its diesel generators with 3 × MAN /44DF engines that can run on diesel fuel and gas; simultaneously, an LNG storage system was also installed on board. The conversion of the Samuel de Champlain to liquefied natural gas was the first of its kind in Europe.
“Based on the experience we had with MAN Energy Solutions when converting the dredger, we wanted to renew our trust in the MAN Energy Solutions team that has a great deal of expertise,” remarked Hubert Louys, Maintenance Manager for Dragages-Ports.
“We are happy to continue our partnership on this project beyond the installation of the new engine, carried out in 2019. Work to optimise maintenance plans has since been carried out in close collaboration with GIE to ensure the dredger’s increased availability,” stated Jordan Morvan, Project Manager, MAN Energy Solutions France.
