Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam (NL), part of Damen Shipyards Group, has been contracted again by Rederij Groen (NL) after delivering two chasers, the ‘Aquarius-G’ and the ‘Astra-G’, earlier this year. The new Seismic Research Support Vessels’ deliveries are planned in the third quarter of 2014, while shipowner Groen has taken an option on a third, identical vessel to be delivered in 2015, the company said in its press release.
The new SRSV’s will be 35 x 8.70 m and will be propelled by two Azimuth thrusters, each powered by a 500 kW electric motor. Three Caterpillar gensets will provide electrical power. Rederij Groen is planning to put the vessels to work in the Seismic Industry worldwide.
Like the earlier chasers, the new SRSV’s will often operate alongside other vessels, assisting with board-to-board transhipment of goods and equipment. As seismic research is done at low speeds, stability and manoeuvrability are of the essence. “The new design allows just that”, adds Mr Groen.