Most vessel launching ceremonies attract little attention outside the trade press, and this maybe doubly true for dredgers, particularly when the industry uses names such as cutter-suction dredgers (CSDs).
However, CCCC Tianjin Dredging's recent launch ceremony for its latest CSD newbuilding sparked a wave of concern around the world — and with good reason.
Chinese state media says the 140-metre Tian Kun Hao, which will be delivered from Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry in 2018,will be “the largest [CSD] in Asia”.
