Leading towage and salvage operator Multraship has taken delivery of the first of two customised Damen Stan Launch 804s vessels for its line handling and boatmen service companies in Terneuzen, the Netherlands. Verenigde Bootlieden B.V. and Montis Mooring & Boatservice B.V. will use the highly manoeuvrable vessels to support safe and effective port operations, the company said in its press release.
In December Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam in the Netherlands delivered the first Stan Launch 804s, 'Montis 5', and the second vessel, 'VB 2', will be delivered in early February after 16 weeks under construction.
“We had some very specific demands for these vessels,” says Pepijn Nuijten from Multraship Towage & Salvage. “We wanted manoeuvrability and flexibility for working in confined spaces, but with the extra power to work as a tug with pusher bow.”
Although Multraship is already an important client for Damen, the contract for the two Stan Launch 804s vessels is the first for Multraship’s boatmen services. To meet the client’s requirements, Damen’s design and engineering team at its Maaskant yard customised the proven 8.62-metre Stan Launch 804 design – increasing the standard bollard pull from 1.4 tonnes to 3.2 tonnes, adding an 11 kW bow thruster, a ø900 mm nozzle propeller and more than doubling the installed power to 182 kW.
“Multraship is a very experienced client and definitely has an eye for detail,” says Project Engineer John van der Maas. “Together with the client, we put a lot of effort into developing special solutions with what I’d say is a really perfectionist approach. These are very well-thought out vessels and the Montis 5 has performed very well so far.”
Additional client specifications include limiting the air draught to a maximum of 2.75 metres so that the vessels can escape under open pier structures if necessary. The mast can be quickly folded to further reduce air draught. The vessels have been customised to handle the size and weight of mooring lines on large seagoing ships and are fitted with Mampaey quick-release towing hooks. A capstan with a pull force of 750 kg has been installed to help the crew with heavy mooring ropes, etc. With an anti-slip wooden deck, the Stan Launches can also safely transport cargo up to 450 kg.