First Damen Fast Crew Supplier Built in Ecuador
For the first time, a Damen Fast Crew Supplier 1605 will be built in Ecuador by Astilleros Navales Ecuatorianos (ASTINAVE) Shipyard.
Damen is supplying the complete, prefabricated Shipbuilding Material Package Kit to ASTINAVE. The yard’s technical staff are responsible for the construction, together with Damen Technical Cooperation (DTC). The DTC concept enables customers to build Damen vessels of their choice locally, according to specific requirements. The Fast Crew Supplier will be delivered to Petro Ecuador in September this year.
“Damen will do everything in its power to ensure that ASTINAVE can accomplish this tight deadline,” said Ezequiel Najmias, Damen Sales Manager Americas.
Negotiations with ASTINAVE are already going on for the possibility of more Fast Crew Suppliers and other vessels. State-owned oil company Petro Ecuador is the end user of the new Fast Crew Supplier, which will be deployed to transport executives to oil fields.
Damen engineers have been heavily involved in the design process because the vessel will not be a standard vessel. Usually, the Damen Fast Crew Supplier 1605 transports 29 passengers. But this vessel is being designed for only 19. As well as being more luxurious and spacious for high levels of passenger comfort, the vessel is also being adapted for a 3 m access system to transfer passengers to the rigs.
ASTINAVE and Damen have a long-established relationship. The Ecuadorian yard has built several Cutter Suction Dredgers and Stan Patrols over the years. This latest order followed one in September, 2011, for a Stan Patrol 2606. ASTINAVE employees also attend training courses at Damen Shipyards’ headquarters in the Netherlands.