UKD DOLPHIN

The trailing suction dredger UKD DOLPHIN has been busy over the past few days at the ports of Ayr and Troon, and is seen here at the former. Built in 1984 as DOLPHIN by IHC Sliedrecht in Holland, she had carried a number prefixes to her name over the years; in 1988 she became HUMBER DOLHIN, in 1994 WELSH DOLPHIN and in 1997 she adopted her present name. She is 79.0 metres in length, and has a capacity for 2,189 cubic metres of spoil. She can dredge to a depth of 25 metres. Her owners, UK Dredging, is a subsidiary of Associated British Ports, which owns both Troon and Ayr. She is due to be replaced next year, a new dredger having been ordered from Barkmeijer Shipyards in Holland in December 2007.