Dredging @ Group De Cloedt

DC Dredging BV is the dredging and shipping division of Group De Cloedt. Our dredging activities consist of extraction of sea sand and gravel; we also execute projects. These projects can be either deepening of a seabed or suppling sand on beaches or on constructions sites.

Originally, DC Dredging BV consisted of 2 separate companies, SEAM Oosterlee BV in Breskens and ZZT Versloot BV in Sluiskil. Both companies were active in the extraction of sea sand and had their own dredging vessels.
Oosterlee owned the DC Vlaanderen and the Rio. Versloot, which was purchased in 2002, owned the Interballast I and Interballast III. In addition, they each had a number of inland vessels to deliver our dredging products to inland customers/depots. Both companies also had their own technical workshop and sand trading companies; Oosterlee on the quay in Breskens, and Versloot in Sluiskil.

By 2011, both companies were acquired by Group De Cloedt and got merged into DC Dredging BV.

On 1 July 2019, the sand depot and workshop in Breskens were unfortunately closed due to the redevelopment of the port and the construction of apartments. The office was moved to the centre of Breskens, and all other activities were merged in Sluiskil.

In total, DC Dredging BV employs just under 90 (internal and external) people. The office in Breskens houses the administration, planning, human resources and finance departments. In the office of Sluiskil, we have our warehouse and technical team. Furthermore, we have a small sand depot in Sluiskil.  The Key personnel consist of our crew sailing along with the dredging ships or inland ships.

As indicated above, we dredge sea sand and gravel for the construction industry. This includes concrete factories, road construction companies and other contractors.

In the Netherlands, we have our own concession to dredge sea sand on the Dutch part of the North Sea, the so-called Dutch Continental Shelf (NCP). In Belgium it is called, the Belgian Continental Shelf (BCP). The sea sand mainly finds its way to the Belgian market and to a small extent to the Netherlands, France, the UK and Denmark.

The extraction of gravel mainly takes place in the UK, Denmark and Poland. Group De Cloedt has its own licences for the Danish and Polish concessions and uses the licences of fellow companies for the extraction of gravel in the UK. Most of our gravel is sold in Denmark to our colleagues at NordsøRal in Thyborøn and Dansk Natursten in Copenhagen. A small part is delivered to the Dutch and German markets.

Some of our ships are also used on projects. This includes beach replenishment, the development of new port areas via land reclamation made of sand, the deepening of harbours or access canals to ports.

Additionally, some ships are equipped with specialised equipment to assist in case of an oil spill. The machinery on board can absorb oil spills on sea in order to prevent the oil from spreading into nature and thus damaging sea life and beaches.

Contracts have been concluded with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and Rijkswaterstaat for this purpose.

DC Dredging BV strives to be a reliable partner for the production and supply of sea sand and gravel. Therefore, a tight intragroup collaboration is necessary for the sale of our dredged products but also to be able to execute projects.

We are extremely grateful to be able to rely on the cooperation and knowledge of all our fantastic colleagues within the group. Together we are building the future!