Crew Suppliers News

Dutch shipbuilding conglomerate Damen announced it has secured approval from classification society Bureau Veritas as well as the Dutch and Belgian flag authorities for its designs of methanol-powered workboats.The shipbuilder said it can now offer designs for a wide range of methanol-powered compact vessels, ranging from tugs, stationary dredgers and high-speed vessels to fast crew suppliers, pilot boats, stan patrols and fast ferries, as and when the engines for these types…

Offshore energy industry services provider High Speed Transfers (HST) Marine has ordered three Fast Crew Suppliers 2710s from Damen Shipyards for an undisclosed fee.Damen Shipyards said that the vessels would be fitted with 190kW battery arrays that will enable them to operate emissions-free both when in harbour and when loitering offshore awaiting the retrieval of their technicians. In zero-emission mode, the vessels will be propelled by an electrical motor that is connected via the gearbox (PTI) to the propeller shaft.

Dutch marine services and towage firm KOTUG has closed the acquisition of Seaways, first announced in April. The fee was not disclosed."The acquisition of Seaways brings together the assets, expertise and people of two leading companies that support the worldwide floating facility business such as FSO, FPSO, FLNG, FSRU and SPM Terminals. With all customary, governmental, and other required approvals, KOTUG will now focus on the integration of Seaways and strengthening its leading presence in the floating offshore market…

Dutch maritime services firm EMAR Offshore Services has bought two Damen Fast Crew Suppliers (FCS) 2206 for an undisclosed fee.The first vessel, named E-Six, has already begun operations in Angola, supporting the local oil and gas industry, and will be joined by the E-Seven shortly, Damen said.The 22-meter Damen FCS 2206 design features a 25m² cargo deck and the capacity to carry up to 42 personnel plus two crew at speeds of up to 32 knots.The vessels of this design have a range of up to 315nm at maximum speed in its standard configuration but…

Dutch marine services and towage company KOTUG has agreed to buy offshore support vessel firm Seaways International, in what is the largest acquisition in KOTUG's history.KOTUG said the move, of an undisclosed value, was part of its strategy to expand its business in assisting worldwide floating facilities such as FSO, FPSO, FLNG, FSRU, and SPM Terminals. "In addition, it will further consolidate the position of KOTUG in this niche market that is expected to grow as new offshore floating projects emerge in response to rising energy demand…

UAE-based Albwardy Damen has signed a service agreement with the provider of heavy-duty marine cranes Heila Cranes. Many of the vessels that Damen builds and maintains are fitted with cranes manufactured by the Italian company.The Dutch shipbuilding group said in a press release that the new service agreement between the two companies will enable Albwardy Damen to ensure that the Heila cranes on board its customers’ vessels operating in the region are guaranteed top quality, through-life support and customer service."This premium level of support will be available both for the yard’s newbuilds and third-party vessels when they visit the Albwardy Damen facilities for maintenance and repair…

On March 4th at Damen Shipyards Singapore, Seaways International took delivery of two Damen Fast Crew Suppliers (FCS) 2206. The Dubai-headquartered company has previously operated a Damen FCS 3307. Seaways International specializes in offshore marine services and will use the new vessels to transport crew to offshore energy locations in West Africa.Damen signed the contract with Seaways International on May 9, 2018. The swiftness of the delivery is due to Damen’s philosophy of standardized shipbuilding.

Albwardy Damen celebrated its tenth anniversary on November 15th by officially opening its new ship repair facility at Dubai Maritime City (DMC). Over 100 guests from both the regional maritime industry and the Dubai government joined the Albwardy Damen management team at their new DMC workshop and Dubai HQ for the opening ceremony, followed by lunch on board the famous Queen Elizabeth II (QE2) ocean liner. Albwardy Damen is a joint venture between Albwardy Marine Engineering and the Damen Shipyards Group…

Damen Shipyards Group has delivered four new Fast Crew Suppliers (FCS) 2610 to Allianz Middle East Ship Management. The four vessels will undertake work in the ADMA oil field in Abu Dhabi, providing logistics services and safe crew transfer, as part of a five-year contract awarded to ADNOC LS and ADNOC Offshore. The contract will commence as of December 5, 2018. The handover took place between Ahmed T. Khalil, general manager of Allianz, Menno Kuyt, managing director Maritime Craft Services (MCS) and Pascal Slingerland…

Last Thursday, Damen Shipyards Gorinchem hosted the Damen group’s third annual Workboat Festival. The event brought together more than 200 customers, media and industry partners, and 34 workboats, for an afternoon of presentations, demonstrations, product displays and interactive exhibits.The workboats ranged in size from ten-meter Stan Launches and Stan Tugs up to a 72-meter Stan Pontoon. In between were Fast Crew Suppliers, Stan Pilots, Stan Patrols, additional Stan Launches and Tugs, plus an Interceptor and a RHIB.

With nearly three dozen shipyards spattered across the globe, Damen Shipyards Group based in the Netherlands is one of the world’s most active shipbuilders. Maritime Reporter & Engineering News examines the flurry of activity perpetuated by the shipbuilding and repair conglomerate.The Damen Shipyards Group reported a turnover of €2 billion in 2017, a year in which it delivered 165 newbuilds, including 64 tugs and workboats, five offshore vessels, 40 high-speed craft and ferries, 12 pontoons and barges, 23 dredging and specialty vessels, 16 vessels for defense and security and five yachts.

At the end of June, Damen Shipyards Group along with Ampelmann and VEEM hosted a Marine Access Event, where over two days delegates from both the offshore renewable and non-renewable industries had the opportunity to sail from IJmuiden in the Netherlands to experience the latest in marine access solutions. The demonstrations took place on board a Damen Fast Crew Supplier 5009 equipped with an Ampelmann L-type gangway and two VEEM VG 260SD gyro stabilizers.This combination of VEEM gyro stabilizers…

Damen showed two new Fast Crew Supply vessels to the world for the first time on the 3rd of July at the 2018 Seawork International Exhibition and Conference, currently underway in Southampton, UK. The FCS 2710 and FCS 1204 received their first public viewings and the naming ceremony for the FCS 2710 was also held on the opening day of the show. The FCS 2710 is the successor vessel to the highly popular FCS 2610, which has sold over 40 vessels worldwide over the past seven years. The FCS 2710 retains the successful twin hull, axe bow design but is one metre longer and higher than its predecessor. That, plus a complete redesign of the interior…

Marco Bovio, Senior Research Hydromechanics Engineer at Damen, presented details of internal research Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) based project ‘Gone With The Wind’ (GWTW). For the past two years Damen has been conducting a review of CFD technology and its applications in the maritime industry, and GWTW has been addressing one specific aspect of this. Its purpose, to look at the capability of CFD to accurately model the aerodynamic forces that act upon vessels above the waterline, as a separate analysis to those CFD studies that focus on the interactions that occur below the surface. The specific issue being addressed has been the challenge of meeting the requirements of the IMO regulation 749.18.

Fine weather after a stormy morning and a wide range of vessels to view and try out on the water encouraged a good turnout of clients, industry partners and media at Damen’s second annual Workboat Festival. Held at Damen Shipyards’ HQ at Gorinchem, the event not only invited guests to experience a selection of smaller tugs, pilot boats, fast crew suppliers and a high-powered RIB, it also gave them the opportunity to explore themes that are very much at the forefront of the industry.

Damen Shipyards Gorinchem, which is also the headquarters of the Damen Shipyards Group, opened its doors to customers and industry partners alike for the first Damen Workboat Festival. More than 200 guests arrived for the one-day event, taking the opportunity to inspect a wide range of Damen vessels and experience some of them out on the water. The vessels on display included Multi Cats, a wide range of Stan Tugs, high-speed RHIBs, Pilot boats, Fast Crew Suppliers, fast Patrol Boats and pontoons.

In a celebratory atmosphere, marking the sustained growth of its fleet, SeaZip Offshore Services has taken delivery of two Damen Fast Crew Suppliers (FCS) 2610. Continuing the company’s vessel-naming trend, the new additions will be known as SeaZip 5 and SeaZip 6. The offshore service provider now has six Damen FCS 2610 vessels in its fleet. A key modification made to both vessels was to increase their draught. Jan Reier Arends, SeaZip Offshore Services Managing Director, highlights the importance of this design rethink: “By strengthening the hull in certain areas…

The new website for Damen Trading, the brokerage department of the Damen Shipyards Group, integrates Damen corporate house-style as well as an improved profile of services that includes registration, transport and even vessel modifications if required. It also offers trade-in terms for owners looking to buy a new Damen vessel. Damen Trading specializes in tugs and workboats with a global network consisting of ship owners, ship operators and co-brokers. Further services include the sale of coasters, crewboats, patrol boats and passenger ferries.

On 28 March, SeaZip Offshore Service named two new Damen Fast Crew Suppliers (FCS) 2610 at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem. The two vessels, named SeaZip 3 and SeaZip 4, will expand their owner’s offshore wind farm support capacity in the North Sea region. SeaZip 3 and SeaZip 4 can be described as the Mark II version of Damen’s renowned FCS 2610. Responding to industry feedback, Damen has lengthened the wheelhouse and located the accommodation closer to the stern. “Passengers have their own space upstairs in the wheelhouse while downstairs there are 3 cabins and a small galley for the crew…

To develop its large fleet, Groen Offshore, Guard & Support has selected the first Damen Twin Axe Fast Crew Supplier 2610 to be customised with Offshore Oil & Gas standby capabilities. The Netherlands-based company will deploy the new vessel on long-term charter for a major E&P operator in the Danish part of the North Sea, following quick delivery this summer from Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam. On 13 May, Henk Groen, Director of Groen Offshore, Guard & Support (in Dutch known as Rederij Groen), signed the contract for the new FCS 2610 with Frits van Dongen, Director of Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam – the Damen yard in the Netherlands that will finish the vessel from stock.

Coming off a year which saw the Damen Group record its highest ever order intake over a 12-month period, a production value of roughly $2.25b and 160 newbuild deliveries, the shipbuilder looks to expand in the composite vessel market. For Damen, building with composite materials is nothing new. Already using composites for decades in some of its high speed craft, naval vessels and ferries, the Netherlands-based shipbuilder looks to take composites to the next level. The Damen Group took over Vitters’ high-tech composite shipyard Cyrus in Antalya…

Press release - The Damen Shipyards Group is shipping a total of 22 vessels from several Damen shipyards aboard the heavy-lift vessel Happy Star. This is Damen’s largest transportation of stock vessels to date. Upon arrival in Europe later this month, the completed vessels will be ready for immediate sale and can swiftly be put into operation. Damen has already sold a number of the vessels being transported. Amongst these are two Fast Crew Suppliers (FCS) 2610 to be used at North Sea offshore wind parks.

BigLift Shipping’s heavy-lift vessel Happy Star arrived in the Port of Rotterdam bringing with her Damen’s largest transportation of stock vessels to date; a total of 22 vessels. Included in the Damen transport are two Fast Crew Suppliers 2610, one ASD Tug 2310, three ASD Tugs 2411 and three ASD Tugs 3212, all of which have been sold and will be delivered to clients upon arrival. Additionally, there are a number of completed vessels available for sale. These are, two Stan Tugs 1606…