MarineCo UK has contracted Damen Shipyards Group for a Multi Cat 2712. The vessel will be delivered in April 2015. Mr. Mike Conafray, Managing Director at MarineCo stated that, after a long evaluation, with alternative builders, Damen came through with the right vessel at the right cost, the new vessel will comfortably sit alongside our existing all-Damen Fleet. Marineco UK is one of the few UK operators with an all-Damen fleet. The new vessel is to be named Marineco Havanah, after the arrival of Mike and Kaye’s twin granddaughters Ava and Hannah.
The Multi Cat 2712 is the second contract for this new type in the Damen Multi Cat Series, It measures 27 metres in length and 12 metres in width. The vessel is equipped with two engines and has a maximum bollard pull of 35 tonnes.
Because of its measurements, the Multi Cat 2712 is a vessel that can be used for many purposes. A decision about the working area of the Multi Cat will be made later.
The vessel is very flexible and developed according to the Damen Standard, with attention for a logical, functional and maintenance friendly design of wheelhouse and deck layout.
Damen has a long standing relationship with MarineCo, previously delivering high speed support vessels, Multiple FCS 2610 Twin Axes, a Damen Stan Tug 2608, Multi Cats and Damen Shoalbusters to the flourishing company. As MarineCo Managing Director Conafray says himself: “We have an entire Damen fleet”. MarineCo is an offshore industrial company, currently, their Stan Tug 2608 is operating in Abu Dhabi, towing rock barges 24 hours a day.
The Multi Cat, another Damen invention dating four decades back, is a highly successful all-round workhorse. Today, Multi Cats around the world with Bureau Veritas Unrestricted Navigation and IVW/MCA service notation steadily perform the duties they are designed for in a variety of markets, such as dredging, towing and offshore wind. From anchor, pipeline or cutter-head handling and repair, to transporting fuel, supplies, spare parts and crew transport to wind turbines. Multi Cats have a large working deck, one or two cranes and both a stern and blow roller.
The larger Multi Cats can be equipped with Dynamic Positioning e.g. DP2. From shifting dredgers from one location to another, to assisting cable-laying barges – a Multi Cat can be deployed for many river, inshore and offshore tasks.
Marineco UK is an Edinburgh based operator, established in 1996 who operates various types of Damen-built vessels working throughout the world 24/7. Marineco UK employs over 70 staff and crew from as far afield as Mexico to Singapore.