Damen officials said the company has built more than 20 Dop dredgers on a one-off basis as well as more than 380 Dop pumps. It has found success in its line because of its simple concept based on a well-proven dredge pump, directly driven by a hydraulic or electric motor and assembled in rigid housing.

The Dop design can be easily connected to cranes, excavators and more and has the ability to attach all kinds of specialised suction devices such as mining heads or cutter units.

"In the past we have had many requests for ‘ad hoc' dredgers using a DOP pump, so we have listened to our clients and learnt from that," product director of dredging Olivier Marcus said.

"They told us mobility and a deep, dredging depth were vital. The knowledge and experience we have gained over the years has now led to the development of a new standard series of DOP dredgers focusing on maximum sand production at significant depths and practical transport and assembly due to the limited unit weights."

The dredger, designed to be ideal for dam maintenance work, is also good for deep sand winning, it said.

"Mining companies are going deeper and deeper for minerals and, separately, there is a lot more land reclamation taking place," he said. "The Dop dredger, with the submerged Dop pump, can go much deeper to win sand when compared to a cutter suction dredger."

The new Damen Dop dredger series uses its standard Dop 150, 200, 250 and 350, which have capacities ranging from 600m²/h to 2,400m³/h. With a submerged dredge pump, the Dop dredger can reach depths to 100m, where other dredgers cannot go, the company added.

Damen is also introducing an all-electric version of the Dop dredger.

The company said turnaround time on orders for the new series is rapid, as all components for the Dop units are in stock.