Queen of the Netherlands (ship)

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The Queen of the Netherlands: A Dutch Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger

The Queen of the Netherlands is one of the world's largest suction dredgers, capable of sucking up to 160 meters of water depth with its powerful suction pumps. Built in 1998, this vessel has a length of 230.71 meters and a width of 32 meters, with a draught of up to 11.46 meters. Its loading volume is an impressive 35,500 cubic meters.

The ship's propulsion system consists of two sets of installed pumps: one set producing 3 × 1000 kW and the other 2 × 6000 kW. Additionally, it features a bow thruster with a power output of 2650 kW as a maneuvering aid. The Queen of the Netherlands reaches speeds of up to 18 knots when in operation.

On board, there are typically 46 crew members stationed during normal operations. However, its capabilities extend beyond dredging; the ship played a significant role in the Swissair Flight 111 salvage operation in September 1998. By recovering wreckage from the Atlantic Ocean, investigators were able to gather crucial evidence on the cause of the crash.

In addition to its involvement in this high-profile incident, the Queen of the Netherlands has also been utilized for other projects, including those in the Far East and Southeast Asia, where it was extended or modified as part of larger recovery initiatives.