Damen Delivers Third Shoalbuster to Kazmortransflot
Damen Shoalbusters 2709 TALAS and EMBA (Photo Tijmen Kielen / Damen Shipyards Damen)
Damen Shoalbuster 2709 (Photo courtesy Damen)
National Maritime Shipping Company Kazmortransflot LLP has taken delivery of its third Damen Shoalbuster 2709, the last in the current order.
The vessels are ideal for operations in the shallow waters of the Caspian Sea and are now playing a role in the development of oil fields in the Kazakh section of the inland sea and significantly expanding the range of services that Kazmortransflot can offer its clients.
The contracts for the three Shoalbusters 2709 were signed in July 2017 between Damen, NMSC Kazmortransflot LLP and Al Hilal Islamic Bank, which arranged the Sharia compliant financing. All three vessels were built at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem with the first two delivered from stock just two months following the signing of the contract. Named Emba and Talas, they were handed over to Kazmortransflot on September 5, 2017 in the Netherlands. The third, named Irgiz, was officially delivered on March 15 this year. The vessels are RMRS classified.
The versatile Damen Shoalbuster range offers a wide range of options within the standard designs, and Kazmortransflot chose a higher power rating for their 27-meter vessels to deliver a top speed of more than11 knots and a bollard pull of more than 40 metric tons. Their duties will include towing structures and other vessels, assisting ships, navigational assistance, the planting and handling of anchors, and other auxiliary ship duties.
Marat Ormanov of Kazmortransflotsaid at the time of the contract signing, “We chose to work with Damen for these vessels because of the proven track record of the Damen Shoalbuster range. Also, thanks to Damen’s standardized shipbuilding concept and philosophy of building for stock, they are able to deliver our vessels within very short term, enabling us to rapidly put our development plans into action.”
Marc Tijssen, Sales Manager at Damen Shipyards Group, added, “Damen is involved in the Caspian Sea already for a long time. We trust that the delivery of these three vessels marks the first step in a long-term relationship with Kazmortransflot. We are looking forward to assist them with new projects.”
Yeltay Mukhamejanov, Head of Business of Al Hilal Islamic Bank, said, “We are pleased to provide the first Islamic structured financing for Kazmortransflotand make our contribution in developing the Caspian region.”
