Dutch yard Conrad at Haarlem building dredgers for Argentina according to the Dutch newspaper Haarlem’s Dagblad 1884-1885

The edition dated 20 May 1884 published an item dated Haarlem 19 May reporting that Th. Figee was contracted to build vessels for the new harbour near Ensenada at the la Plata river. St the moment were 3 large dredgers each fitted out with a 60 ihp engine and a new press equipment for transferring the mud. The vessels were to be tested in the Spaarne and then dissembled for transport by ship to Argentina.

In the edition dated 26 November 1884 was reported that on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 November a dredger was tested in the presence of a large number of authorities and other interested people on the Noorder-Buitensparen near the Kikkertje. She was build at the yard of Conrad owned by Thomas Figee to be used at the harbour works at Buenos Ayres, Argentina. These trials were so important because they were visited by a large number of engineers from France, German and other countries even experts from the Panama Canal. The reporters heard from several men that they were pleased with this kind of dredger and her performance. She was able to press the mud away over a distance of 200 metres with a maximum height of nearly 5 metres. She was able to transfer in this way between 100 and 150M3 ground in a hour. The dredger was built in just 123 days of labour and could be completely be disassembled and be transport with ships to their destination. The item was dated Haarlem 22 November and written by F. Allan. In a footnote was written that this dredger was not the largest Figee was able to build. The dimensions of what he could build were limited by the fact that the locks at Spaarndam were too small for passing. The journalist wrote that the cabinet had to take measures to improve this situation in the interests of the city Haarlem.

The edition dated 1 September 1886 published more details about the year 1885. The seaworthy steam dredger Buenos Ayres 3 rigged as a schooner brig that year completed. Using own steam- and sailing power travelled she in 66 days from IJmuiden towards Buenos Ayres. Without meeting any problems underway she was immediately after her arrival used as a dredger. When bringing her from Haarlem to IJmuiden were problems at the Spaarndam lock encountered which was too short. By opening both doors of the lock and with a decay of the water in- and outside of the lock of just 18 centimetres became it possible to tow her through the locks.

The bucketdredger A 8 in 1888 delivered in 1923 still in service. Archive Conrad-Stork BV at Haarlem 1883-1988 (Noord-Hollands Archief) onv.nr. 207.