The new virtuous dredger “Hydromer” leaves for its home ports in Occitanie and will run on green hydrogen

The new Hydromer dredger left Concarneau this Tuesday, February 27. – Olivier ROLLAND-JACOB

Built in Concarneau (Finistère), the dredger left this Tuesday, February 27. She is expected in Sète in a week to begin her work. It will run partly on hydrogen within a short year to further reduce its carbon footprint.

The stormy weather had so far delayed his departure. But this Tuesday, February 27, the region's new dredger, called 'Hydromer', finally left Concarneau (Finistère), where it was built, to reach its home ports# 39;Occitanie, Sète (Hérault) first, then Port-la-Nouvelle (Aude) or even Grau-du-Roi (Gard).

Measuring 70 m long, accommodating around ten people on board, it can transport 1,500 m3 of sediment and is expected in Sète-Frontignan within a week for initial work.

"There was bad weather but we also had to validate the dredging operating model, we did tests off the coast of La Rochelle and it worked, we had to fine-tune the settings and there it was the excitement of departure" indicates Corentin Decaestecker, naval engineer from the Region, who embarked this Tuesday morning.

The particularity of this new barge ? Beyond offering a modern tool for its activities at the bottom of the sea, it aims to be virtuous. Built since 2021 by the Piriou shipyard, representing an investment of 2,9M€ (27.75 M€ from the Region, 2.25 M€ from the State), Hydromer will participate in reducing the environmental impact.

All-electric design

The all-electric design of the ship limits acoustic emissions for local residents, small marine life and even for the sailors on board. An innovative device also makes it possible to recycle waste water, black and gray, "for cleaning and maintenance of the ship" specifies Corentin Decaestecker. Without forgetting specific filtration to avoid nitrogen oxide emissions while sulfur emissions are already limited.

But it is above all green hydrogen which is expected to participate in the propulsion of the dredge: it will then be a world first with, on the ship, four containers of marinated hydrogen (for a quantity approaching 1.6 tonnes).

The commissioning of the hydrogen function will be coordinated with the commissioning of the Hyd’Occ green hydrogen manufacturing plant in Port-La Nouvelle, the construction of which is currently underway. The consequence: 20% less CO2 emitted and zero emissions in port or at anchor. This will represent between 700 and 1,000 tonnes of CO2 not released into the atmosphere each year.

Waiting for system approval, world first

"We need to finalize the integration of the system on board" indicates Corentin Decaestecker. An approval which should take place in a few months, for circulation with green hydrogen by September 2025.

"This is an ambitious and innovative project that we have been carrying out collectively for several years. a technological feat unique in the world which will once again allow Occitanie and the French naval industry to shine" welcomes Carole Delga, the president of Region.

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