Maja Stuwadoors took delivery of Damen Spill Pontoon 2116
In their first contract with Damen Shipyards Group, Netherlands-based Maja Stuwadoors took delivery of a Damen Spill Pontoon 2116, Damen says in its press release. The new pontoon, called Maja 5, will catch bulk products that are spilled during the transhipment process.
In the Dutch ports of Amsterdam and Rotterdam, Maja Stuwadoors has several floating harbour cranes used for the transhipment of bulk goods for the agricultural, energy and metal sectors. These cranes are typically positioned between the quay and the bulk carrier. During the unloading process, it is a common occurrence that some of the load is lost from the crane’s grabber and thus falls into the water.
“This new pontoon can be seen as an extension of the crane pontoon,” comments Damen’s Benelux Sales Manager Roel van Eijle highlighting the spill pontoon’s principle function. “If bulk goods are dropped, they fall onto this spill pontoon instead of in the water.” As well as reduced loss of product, operators using spill pontoons will comply with European port regulations concerning water quality in harbour areas.
As the first Damen pontoon to be constructed for this specific purpose, the Maja 5 demonstrates that high-tech specifications are not a prerequisite for innovation. Essentially a very simple concept, the spill pontoon has a large closed deck with a raised 8cm edge to prevent further product loss in addition to mooring bollards in each corner.Damen also outfitted the spill pontoon with two tanks with special closable deck dowels in order to collect polluted water.
Constructed within 8 weeksat one of Damen’s Chinese partner yards,the Spill Pontoon 2116 was transported to the Netherlands on Damen’s latest shipment of pre-purchased and built-for-stock vessels from local Chinese partner yards. The shipment arrived just a few months after the order – matching MajaStuwadoors’ requirements concerning short delivery time.
“This is the first time that we have worked with Maja Stuwadoors,” says Mr Van Eijle. “Looking at what work they perform and what equipment they have, we certainly look forward to working with them again in the future.”
Damen Shipyards Group operates 32 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 9,000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 5,000 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers some 160 vessels annually to customers worldwide. Based on its unique, standardised ship-design concept Damen is able to guarantee consistent quality.
Damen’s focus on standardisation, modular construction and keeping vessels in stock leads to short delivery times, low ‘total cost of ownership’, high resale values and reliable performance. Furthermore, Damen vessels are based on thorough R&D and proven technology.
Damen offers a wide range of products, including tugs, workboats, naval and patrol vessels, high speed craft, cargo vessels, dredgers, vessels for the offshore industry, ferries, pontoons and superyachts.
For nearly all vessel types Damen offers a broad range of services, including maintenance, spare parts delivery, training and the transfer of (shipbuilding) know-how. Damen also offers a variety of marine components, such as nozzles, rudders, anchors, anchor chains and steel works.
In addition to ship design and shipbuilding, Damen Shiprepair & Conversion has a worldwide network of 15 repair and conversion yards with dry docks ranging up to 420 x 80 metres. Conversion projects range from adapting vessels to today’s requirements and regulations to the complete conversion of large offshore structures. DSC completes around 1,500 repair and maintenance jobs annually.
