An innovative design of suction dredger encapsulating long-term environmental thinking has been ordered by a major UK port and cargo handling group from Dutch shipbuilder Neptune Marine.

Scheduled to be ready for service with PD Ports on the River Tees in mid 2024, the 71m newbuild will feature a battery pack, machinery capable of running on non-carbon fuels, and adaptability for future power technology upgrades.

Neptune has subcontracted hull construction to a yard in Poland. Completion and commissioning will take place in the Netherlands, from where the £23m ($28m) vessel, as the Emerald Duchess, will be handed over for duty throughout the Port of Tees and Hartlepool, known collectively as Teesport.