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The National Port Administration (ANP) of Uruguay has recovered the D9 Alfredo Labadie dredger, which had been out of service since October 2023. The vessel is currently performing dredging tasks in the Port of Montevideo and its access channel.
The reactivation of the vessel is one of the measures adopted by the ANP to strengthen national deepening efforts and optimize the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of the resources allocated to this activity. In this regard, the current administration approved an investment budget for the 2025-2029 period of approximately USD 115 million, of which almost USD 63 million will be allocated to national dredging, double the amount executed in the previous administration.
According to the preliminary technical report "Comprehensive Fleet and Dredging Study" published in December 2025, the vessel has a remaining useful life of 10 years. It is a 1984 vessel, with a length of 85.20 m, a beam of 17.70 m, and a hopper capacity (open hold) of 3,000 m3. In 2018, its main engines, one of the dredging engines, and the controllable pitch propellers were replaced.
Dredger 9 suffered damage to its starboard propeller in December 2022, caused by a submerged sling while dredging in the outer harbor of Montevideo. After the damage, the dredger operated only with port propulsion until its next dry dock.
During the subsequent dry dock, it was confirmed that the propellers could not be repaired further, so the dredger was taken out of service.
In August 2025, the propellers were replaced under the supervision of the Technical Commission of the Merchant Marine (COTEC-PNN). After obtaining the launching and hull sealing certifications, the vessel was moved in December to pier No. 11 of the Port of Montevideo for afloat conditioning. There, the work included cleaning fuel and fresh water tanks, 12,000-hour maintenance of the propulsion engines and generators, tuning of the dredging system, among others.
In March 2026, Kongsberg (manufacturer of the original propellers) performed the calibration of the controllable pitch of the parts. Regarding the port dredging engine, years ago the ANP decided to keep it in storage. Its installation is planned for a future routine dry dock.
