When works began in Argentina, groups of Dutch and Belgian workers boarded ships bound for a long journey to South America. The voyage was not without risks - on one crossing the dredger Rosario II sank en route, though fortunately everyone on board was safely rescued.

But DEME’s early pioneers were undeterred. After weeks at sea, Buenos Aires marked the start of a life far from home, followed by long journeys upriver to places like Rosario and Bahía Blanca, where they lived on anchored vessels or in small riverfront quarters.

The workers created a thriving community, held together by camaraderie and defined by the rhythm of the river. Their innovative spirit and resilience shaped the future of our work across continents, and the foundations they laid still carry us forward today.

From 1906 to 1911, the dredging fleet played a central role in developing the Bahía Blanca port area, supporting both the commercial harbor of Ingeniero White and the emerging railway and naval facilities in nearby Puerto Belgrano. During these works, more than 8 million m³ of soil was dredged, with 7 million m³ used for land reclamation, reinforcing the rapid expansion of this strategic port. Bucket dredger Antwerpen and tug Marguerite were deployed throughout the operations.